Hamlin could become 4th repeat Daytona 500 champion

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) » Denny Hamlin rode the escalator to a stadium concourse and spotted his Daytona 500 championship show car on display and wrapped to resemble its appearance moments after the race.

Confetti stuck to the window. The No. 11 Toyota was scuffed up on the sides, a mark of 200 laps of rugged racing.

Not far from away at the Toyota foyer, there hung a banner of Hamlin with his arms raised toward the sky in celebration of his first Daytona 500 victory.

Hamlin took in the festive scenery and had just one thought: Let’s do it again.

“Some of NASCAR’s greatest drivers haven’t won two of them,” Hamlin said, “much less two in a row.”

Hamlin is trying to become just the fourth driver to go back-to-back and win consecutive Daytona 500s. Richard Petty (1973-1974) and Cale Yarborough (19831984) both won consecutive Daytona 500s, and no driver had his name etched on the Harley J. Earl Trophy two straight years since Sterling Marlin in 1994 and 1995.

Hamlin might soon learn successfully defending a Daytona 500 championship is a tougher challenge than even winning the first one. If confidence played as much of a role as the engine, Hamlin just might have the best shot of extending his Daytona dominance.

“If anyone can go backto-back, this is the year for us,” Hamlin said.

But could the finish be as thrilling?

Hamlin stayed in the gas for a door-to-door dash to the checkered flag that ended in a photo finish with Martin Truex Jr. He beat Truex by 0.010 seconds, the closest finish in the history of the race.

(AP PHOTO/TERRY RENNA) Denny Hamlin walks to his garage during a practice session for the Clash NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Daytona Beach, Fla.