NASCAR: Denny Hamlin’s 12-year win streak on the line at Homestead

Denny Hamlin’s streak of 12 straight NASCAR Cup Series seasons with at least one victory is in jeopardy heading into the 2018 season finale.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin entered the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, his 14th season in the sport and his 13th season as a full-time driver in the sport, having won at least one race in each of the last 12 seasons, which were his first 12 seasons as a full-time driver in the sport.

This 12-year winning streak is the third longest active streak, and it is the 13th longest streak in Cup Series history. As far as active streaks are concerned, it trails only Jimmie Johnson’s 16-year winning streak and Kyle Busch’s 14-year winning streak, which he extended from a 13-year winning streak by winning eight races so far this season.

However, this 12-year winning streak, just like Johnson’s 16-year winning streak, is in jeopardy heading into the 2018 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Ford EcoBoost 400.

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The 37-year-old Tampa, Florida native is set to enter the 267-lap race around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Homestead-Miami Speedway oval in Homestead, Florida without having won a race so far this season.

Will he extend his winning streak to 13 consecutive seasons by winning this race?

Don’t rule it out.

It is no secret that Hamlin certainly hasn’t had his best season so far. In fact, his top five finish total of 10 is his lowest since it was seven in the 2014 season, and his top 10 finish total of 17 is his lowest since it was eight in the 2013 season. If his laps led total of 339 stays as is, it will be his lowest laps led total in a season of his career.

Hamlin also currently sits in 11th place in the championship standings. If he finishes there or anywhere outside the top nine, it would be his lowest finish in the standings since he finished in 23rd in the 2013 season. It would also be just his third career finish outside of the top nine.

However, Hamlin’s history at Homestead-Miami Speedway has been solid. He has competed in 13 races at the track, and his average finish in these 13 races is 10.46. In these 13 races, he has earned two victories, four top five finishes, nine top 10 finishes and 11 top 20 finishes. He earned his two victories at the track in the 2009 season and the 2013 season.

Hamlin has not finished a race at Homestead-Miami Speedway outside of the top 10 since the 2012 season when he finished in 24th. He has taken two pole positions for races at the track in his career, and he has taken both of these pole positions in the last three seasons. He started from the pole position for the race in the 2015 season as well as the 2017 season.

Will Denny Hamlin extend his win streak to 13 seasons by winning the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season finale? Be sure to tune in to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 18 for the live broadcast of this race, the Ford EcoBoost 400, from Homestead-Miami Speedway to find out.