Some weeks looking like a contender, others weeks languishing mid-pack, Hamlin was the model of inconsistency in 2015. Nonetheless, winning gains you entry into the Chase, which he took care of with a March win at Martinsville.
Hamlin showed last year that he doesn't need fast cars to give himself a chance at championship glory. But with JGR and Toyota having made sizeable performance gains, Hamlin replicates his final four appearance -- except this go-round he drives away with the hardware.
In addition to issues with inconsistency up, also concerning is the ACL tear Hamlin suffered Sept. 8 in his right knee that will require offseason surgery. The 34-year-old is adamant his performance won’t be impacted, as he’s dealt with a similar injury previously. These two factors, however, contribute to Hamlin becoming the biggest name who's bounced in one of first two rounds.
Last year, Hamlin used consistency not dominance to nearly win the championship. That steadiness, though, has frequently been absent this season, and it's why he's a Round 2 elimination.