Denny Hamlin wins at Pocono for third straight NASCAR Cup victory - ESPN

LONG POND, Pa. — Denny Hamlin, adamant he still plans to retire at the end of next season, won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway for his third consecutive victory and passed the late Kyle Busch for sole possession of ninth place on the all-time wins list.

Hamlin, who at 45 is the oldest full-time driver in the Cup Series, last week won his 63rd race in NASCAR's top series to tie his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate on the all-time wins list. Hamlin's eighth career victory at Pocono pushed him ahead of Busch for sole possession of ninth place.

His recent success — it is his fourth win of the season, not including the non-points All-Star Race — has renewed talk that Hamlin should reconsider retirement when his current deal with Joe Gibbs expires at the end of 2027. He so far has put a stop to such talk despite performing at the highest level of his long career.

«I would certainly say it's the best we've been,» Hamlin said. «We come to the racetrack every week knowing we got a great shot to win. The team's doing an amazing job giving me exactly what I need in the car every single week. That's why we're winning.»

Sunday's win comes nearly 20 years to the date after his first career victory, which was at Pocono on June 11, 2006. He swept the races at the Pennsylvania track that year.

Hamlin said Pocono has become «like a second home for me.»

«First win here, so special here. Pocono has mastered the fan experience from the crowd in the stands to the infield here,» Hamlin said. «Just so happy for this whole Joe Gibbs Racing team. The pit crew is flawless right now. We got it all going.»

Despite 64 career victories, this marked the first time that Hamlin has won three consecutive races.

The feat tied Richard Petty,