NASCAR star Denny Hamlin has dismissed any idea that it should take drivers more than three seasons to win their first Cup Series race.

Hamlin's comments came after Sunday's race at San Diego, where Corey Heim took his first-ever Cup win in the No. 67 for 23XI Racing in what was just his 13th outing in the series.

By any standards, that is fast and a hugely impressive accomplishment for Heim, particularly when some out there believe it should take around 100 races to find your feet in the sport's top series and taste victory.

Speaking on this week's edition of his Actions Detrimental podcast, though, Hamlin wasn't having any of that. He dismissed that train of thought as 'for losers' and said top drivers should be winning before that, and if not, at least showing signs that they can contend.

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Denny Hamlin dismisses 100 NASCAR Cup Series start myth

“That 100 starts thing is for losers,” Hamlin said. “I don’t believe in that. I think it's for people that are just trying to buy time. I'm sorry. I know it's probably an unpopular opinion; go ahead, roast me, I don't care.

“I mean, there are a few exceptions like the Chase Elliotts that, it took a minute to get his first win, and then once he got it, it started rolling, but 100 starts? You need three years? I don’t agree with that. I think that, like, you gotta show me something [before then].”

Hamlin continued: “I know I take for granted it's really, really hard to win in the Cup Series but even before Chase won in year whatever it was, he showed he could win far well before his 100th start. Like, you knew it was just a matter of time.

“So I don't know. That's just my opinion.”

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Hamlin uses Gibbs example

One of Hamlin’s podcast co-hosts then pointed out that Ty Gibbs, Hamlin’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, won his first Cup Series race after 131 starts at Bristol this year and has looked strong throughout 2026.

Hamlin, though, says that like Elliott, Gibbs showed flashes long before he hit the 100-race mark.

“No problem, let's bring up my teammate,” Hamlin added. “He has shown signs that he was on the cusp of winning many, many times; he was running in the top five many times.

“So you're able to say, ‘Yeah, it took Ty Gibbs a little bit to win his first, but it was way overdue.’

“Others, I feel like, are using it as, you know, ‘I just don't have a whole lot of experience,’ and by start 100, we're going to start contending.

“I don't buy any of that. But that’s my philosophy, right or wrong. We just had a part-time car and driver win.”

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