Hamlin, now with 42 career wins, passed Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin who retired with 40 checkered flags. Hamlin joins Jimmie Johnson (83 wins), Kyle Busch (56), and Kevin Harvick (53 wins) as one of only four active drivers on NASCAR’s all-time win list.

Following his most recent win at Kansas, the driver spoke – as he often does, about how hard his team works giving them much of the credit for his success.

“I don’t know we had the best car. We definitely had a top-three car all day,” Hamlin said after the race. “We just went for it there at the end. The pit crew did an amazing job getting us out there in front.”

Hamlin started driving in the Cup Series in 2005 when he entered only seven races during the season. Amazingly, he finished with a top-ten run and a pole that year. In 2006 he became a full-time Cup Series driver and scored two wins that year with 18 top-ten runs and three polls.

The NASCAR season is not over yet with the Cup Series Playoffs on the horizon. Hamlin could certainly log a few more checkered flags this year. And, he’s probably got several more under his belt before he retires. Only two more wins will tie him with Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott who scored 44 Cup Series victories during his career.

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