NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin is driving hurt.
Speaking before Wednesday’s practice sessions for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Hamlin revealed he reaggravated a shoulder injury during the offseason, but will continue to compete.
Hamlin appeared unfazed by his injury during Wednesday’s snow-delayed final practice session. The 45-year-old placed sixth, turning the quarter-final track in 14.151 seconds. Defending series champion Kyle Larson claimed the top speed at 63.663 mph.
The Clash’s main feature will feature 23 machines. The top 20 qualifiers earned a spot in the main event. The 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier race was scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET. The events were rescheduled from last weekend, when the region received 8-10 inches of snow. Crews worked overtime to clear the track.
Hamlin said the 2026 season will be a welcome distraction from an offseason of heartbreak.
In December, Hamlin lost his father, Dennis, during a tragic house fire Dec. 28. The blaze also injured his mother, Mary Lou. Hamlin hurt his shoulder following a fall while sifting through his parents’ lost items.
Hamlin previously endured shoulder surgery in November 2023.
“So I’m gonna have to go the rest of the season the way I was before there,” Hamlin said, as reported by NASCAR.com. “I don’t think that it ever healed properly. Just noticed some issues, really kind of right after the season. It just was nagging me a little bit. Took a little fall at my mom’s house, going through all the rubble and stuff and just didn’t feel right.
“Got it re-scanned and re-tore it again.”
https://twitter.com/bobpockrass/status/2019106381463277590?s=20
NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Clash: Final Practice Results
Here are the results from the NASCAR Cup Series’ Cook Out Clash final practice session at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Wednesday:
Starting Position, Driver, Car No.
- 1, Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- 2, William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- 3, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- 4, Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
- 5, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- 6, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- 7, Bubba Wallace No. 23 Toyota
- 8, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- 9, Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
- 10, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
- 11, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- 12, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
- 13, Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
- 14, Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
- 15, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 16, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
- 17, Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Chevrolet
- 18, Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
- 19, Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet
- 20, Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Chevrolet
- 21, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
- 22, Michachel McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
- 23, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
- 24, Corey LaJoie, No. 6 Ford
- 25, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- 26, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
- 27, Cody Ware, No. 51 Chevrolet
- 28, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
- 29, Cole Custer, No. 41 Chevrolet
- 30, John Hunter, No. 42 Toyota
- 31, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
- 32, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
- 33, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
- 34, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- 35, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
- 36, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- 37, Chad Finchum, No. 66 Ford
- 38, Burt Myers, No. 50 Chevrolet
A man of his word. https://t.co/lw7zu0WNPE pic.twitter.com/ZepEF61w2H
— Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (@nascarclash) February 2, 2026
