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Motorsport

Denny Hamlin "couldn't even make a pace lap" before Chicago engine failure

Denny Hamlin was going out to practice with the first group on the streets of Chicago, but the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota didn't make it very far.

He didn't even start a flying lap before the car started smoking, dumping oil and ultimately spinning out. Hamlin didn't hit anything, but the internal damage was enough to end his practice before it had even begun.

"We want to be in control as drivers," Hamlin told TNT Sports. "We want to be in control of our result. You don't want to have mechanical (issues) stop you from that, and obviously this is a race track where it's important to have reps. We spend hours upon hours practicing, getting ready -- all that stuff and you know, couldn't even make a pace lap before we blew up."

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time mechanical gremlins have plagued Hamlin during the 2025 season. He suffered DNFs at both Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway due to similar issues, even going up in flames at Texas.

Chicago is a track that hasn't been kind to Hamlin in the past either. He started from pole in 2023, but wrecked on the second lap of the race. He did rebound to finish 11th, but last year, he finished 30th in a tumultuous day for the No. 11 car.

And after getting zero practice time on Saturday, Hamlin will start from the rear of the field for the main event on Sunday. It will be a difficult task ahead as he tries to march through the field at the tricky street course.

Photos from Chicago - Practice & Qualifying

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Corey Heim, Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

General view

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Corey Heim, Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

Garrett Smithley, Power Source Ford

2025 - Chicago - Saturday

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In this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
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