Column: Time for Hamlin to put up or shut up in title race
FILER - Denny Hamlin walks pit row during a rain delay in a NASCAR Cup series auto race Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. Long recognized alongside Mark Martin as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship, Hamlin has a fifth try Sunday to at long last grab that elusive Cup title. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

FILER - Denny Hamlin walks pit row during a rain delay in a NASCAR Cup series auto race Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. Long recognized alongside Mark Martin as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship, Hamlin has a fifth try Sunday to at long last grab that elusive Cup title. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

Nov. 01, 2021 11:17 AM EDT
FILE - NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, left, talks with Denny Hamlin before the Brickyard 400 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, July 27, 2014. Long recognized alongside Mark Martin as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship, Hamlin has a fifth try Sunday to at long last grab that elusive Cup title. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

FILE - NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, left, talks with Denny Hamlin before the Brickyard 400 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, July 27, 2014. Long recognized alongside Mark Martin as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship, Hamlin has a fifth try Sunday to at long last grab that elusive Cup title. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Nov. 01, 2021 11:17 AM EDT
FILE - Denny Hamlin makes his way to his car for a NASCAR Cup series auto race in Talladega, Ala., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. The race was postponed due to weather. Long recognized alongside Mark Martin as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship, Hamlin has a fifth try Sunday to at long last grab that elusive Cup title. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

FILE - Denny Hamlin makes his way to his car for a NASCAR Cup series auto race in Talladega, Ala., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. The race was postponed due to weather. Long recognized alongside Mark Martin as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship, Hamlin has a fifth try Sunday to at long last grab that elusive Cup title. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

Nov. 01, 2021 11:16 AM EDT
Denny Hamlin (11) prevents Alex Bowman (48) from doing a celebratory burnout after a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Denny Hamlin (11) prevents Alex Bowman (48) from doing a celebratory burnout after a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Oct. 31, 2021 06:45 PM EDT