Well, if you ask me, it’s mighty clear who the best short track driver in NASCAR is these days. Ain’t no doubt about it, it’s Denny Hamlin. Now, don’t go rollin’ your eyes. I’ve seen it with my own eyes how this fella handles them short tracks. He’s made 108 starts on them short ovals and done real good—14 wins, I reckon. That’s somethin’ to talk about!
Now, I ain’t just makin’ this up, neither. Denny, he’s good on them tracks like Martinsville and Bristol. Them tracks ain’t big, mind you, just under a mile long, but boy, do they pack a punch! Tight turns and all that, makes for some exciting racin’. Martinsville’s only 0.526 miles long, and I’ve seen some real nail-biting moments there. But Denny, he seems to have the magic touch when it comes to them small tracks.
And let’s not forget about that Kyle Larson boy. He’s another one who knows how to get the job done. Now, I’m not sayin’ he’s better than Denny, but he’s right up there. He’s raced 48 times on them short tracks, with a solid 14.0 average finish. He’s had 12 top-5 finishes and 22 top-10s. If you ask me, that’s not too shabby, right? Heck, that boy can drive a car on any track, but he sure does shine on them little ones.
Then we got Kyle Busch, who’s been around the block a time or two. He’s the one with the most wins on short tracks outta all the active drivers—16 wins, and a heap of laps led. You might remember his last win at Bristol back in 2019. Ain’t nobody can deny he’s a force to reckon with when it comes to short-track racin’.
I reckon it’s worth mentionin’ that short tracks ain’t just some little side deal in NASCAR. They got their own charm and their own kind of challenge. The turns are tight, the pack’s close, and anything can happen in a heartbeat. Drivers who do well on these tracks got a special skill, and they sure make for some exciting races. It ain’t like them big ol’ superspeedways where cars just go round and round—short tracks, they got a little more heart in ’em.
And let’s not forget about them short track legends like Richard Petty, who’s had his fair share of wins and history on them tracks. Even though he ain’t racin’ no more, folks still talk about his days in the driver’s seat. He had over 1,100 starts in his career and 200 wins, plus he took home 7 Daytona 500 wins. So, yeah, short tracks have been a part of NASCAR’s bloodline for a long time.
But let’s get back to the present day. If we look at the numbers and how these drivers perform, there’s no mistakin’—Denny Hamlin is a standout when it comes to short tracks. His skill on them tight little ovals is somethin’ you can’t ignore. He’s been able to keep up that consistency over the years, which is somethin’ that’s harder to come by than you’d think. Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, they’re no slouches either, but it’s Denny’s overall performance that stands out to me. He’s got the wins, the finishes, and the experience to back it all up.
Now, if you’re lookin’ for a good race on a short track, you don’t have to look far. Every time NASCAR hits them small tracks, it’s like a big ol’ family reunion, with cars bumpin’ and shovin’ for position. I love watchin’ it all unfold, and I reckon you will too, especially when them best drivers like Denny, Kyle, and Larson are out there givin’ it their all. It’s always a sight to see!
- Denny Hamlin: 14 wins on short tracks, top performer in NASCAR garage.
- Kyle Larson: 48 races, 14.0 average finish, 12 top 5s, 22 top 10s.
- Kyle Busch: 16 wins, 5,510 laps led, last win in 2019 at Bristol.
- Martinsville Speedway: Shortest track at 0.526 miles, tight corners make for exciting racing.
- Short track legends: Richard Petty, 1,185 starts, 200 wins, 7 Daytona 500 wins.
So, if you ever get the chance to watch a race on a short track, you won’t be disappointed. The best drivers in NASCAR sure know how to put on a show, and it don’t get much better than watchin’ them on a tight little track like Martinsville or Bristol.
Tags：[NASCAR, short track drivers, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, short track racing, NASCAR history, Martinsville Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway]
