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Denny Hamlin made an unexpected pick for who believes is the current best Cup Series driver.<\/p>\n
Denny Hamlin made a case for who he believes is currently the best driver in the NASCAR<\/a> Cup Series.<\/p>\n But it is not who you would expect the driver of the No. 11 to choose.<\/p>\n Hamlin<\/a> is the co-owner for 23XI Racing with basketball legend Michael Jordan<\/a>. This season, 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick has won four of the first eight races, including an unprecedented three straight to start the campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n While Reddick\u2019s car owner has high praise for his driver, there is one name who Hamlin believes has a slight edge over him.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hamlin on Ryan Blaney being the current best Cup driver: \u2018Hard to say no\u2019<\/p>\n In the most recent episode of his \u201cActions Detrimental\u201d<\/a> podcast, Hamlin was asked by co-host Jared Allen if Ryan Blaney is currently the best driver in the Cup Series.<\/p>\n Between raw speed in the No. 12 car and the Team Penske driver\u2019s ability to drive through the field, Hamlin could not help but acknowledge Blaney as the best right now.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to say no on that. From the pure speed to the ability to pass,\u201d Hamlin said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Blaney has one victory this season, coming at the Phoenix Raceway last month. Through eight races, the 2023 Cup champion has three top fives, six top 10s, and is currently second in the points standings.<\/p>\n Ahead of Blaney in the standings is point leader Reddick, who has four wins, five top fives, and six top 10s after eight races.<\/p>\n Hamlin acknowledges that Reddick has more wins this season, but the consistency lies more with Blaney. However, Hamlin added that Reddick is not far behind Blaney in terms of who is the best in the Cup Series.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI would say Ryan Blaney is week in, week out the guy that you\u2019ve got to beat right now. Just right now. Tyler Reddick is right there, too. They\u2019re really close,\u201d Hamlin said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Hamlin sits third in the points standings. He trails second-place Blaney by 24 points and first-place Reddick by 86 points.<\/p>\n Through eight races in 2026, Hamlin has one win that came at Las Vegas. The Joe Gibbs Racing Driver has accumulated three top fives and five top 10s.<\/p>\n Hamlin enters Kansas as track\u2019s all-time winner<\/p>\n No one has won more Cup Series races at the Kansas Speedway than Hamlin.<\/p>\n Entering this Sunday\u2019s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas, Hamlin has the most wins all-time at the 1.5-mile track with four. The victories came in April 2012, October 2019, July 2020, and May 2023.<\/p>\n In addition to those wins, the 61-time Cup Series winner has strung together other impressive Kansas runs. Last fall, Hamlin finished runner-up after leading a race-high 159 laps.<\/p>\n Yet, he settled for second after contact with Bubba Wallace on the final lap allowed Chase Elliott to slip by and take the checkered flag<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hamlin is in his 21st season of full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition. Since the start of his Cup career, he has piloted the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing car.<\/p>\n Hamlin has accomplished just about everything in the Cup Series with 61 career victories and three Daytona 500s. However, he is still seeking his first Cup Series championship.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tJohn Breeden<\/a> John Breeden is a NASCAR contributor at Heavy Sports. He has five years of sports journalism experience. He graduated from James Madison University in May of 2022 with a degree in media arts and design. John is also a sports reporter for the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Previously, John was a sports writer for JMU’s The Breeze and a NASCAR content writer for Sportskeeda. More about John Breeden<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on NASCAR\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t