'You have to have a game plan' - Hamlin

In his 12-year NASCAR Cup career, Denny Hamlin has not quite been able to accomplish two things that mean a lot to him. For one, the Virginian has not been able to nail down a championship. Secondly, he hasn't found his way to victory lane at Auto Club Speedway. In the slow burn that is the quest for a final-four spot in the post season playoff, Hamlin, perhaps more than any other regular race this season, wants what will be his 16th career start is Southern California to be a victorious one.

Denny, you're 12 years into this series now. Is 2017 going to be your year to win the thing?

"I definitely hope so. That's what our expectations are. Any year that we don't win the championship is another missed opportunity. The competition is harder than it's ever been and race wins are harder to come by than they've ever been. You have to have all the pieces of the puzzle put together just right, especially with this type of format when it all comes down to one race and winner take all. I think that you have to be on top of your game during the regular season with this new stage format, but I feel like it suits us well because we run up front typically more often than not and that's going to pay dividends."

You're renowned for your consistency. To your way of seeing things, is that a hallmark of what you're all about?

"Yeah, I think so. I think it's definitely part of what we do. I don't race conservatively, but I manage my finishes conservatively, I guess you could say. I know when I have a car that's capable of winning and I really go for it. On the days that I don't, I typically race a little bit differently to make sure I optimize my day. That will typically pay off in this type of format."

Even though you've been at it for a while now, do you still gain experience as you go? Is it like you never stop learning at this level?

"Definitely so, for sure. Every single time you go on the racetrack you're learning something new. There is not one week where I feel like there is something that I can't learn at a given track. There are always advantages to be had; if you're not searching for the advantage, then somebody else is going to beat you."

It's so, so competitive here and everyone is incessantly scratching and clawing for an edge. How do you and the No. 11 team collectively fine one?

"It lies within the gray areas for the race teams. They try to get everything they can and with us drivers, it's up to us to do everything we can to study race film and study data to try and get our craft up to par with what these guys are putting on the racetrack for us."

For the drivers to have that capability of being able to make up a difference or find something in that gray area is what makes this form of racing so cool.

"I think with the lower downforce package that we keep implementing – and this year was another chunk of downforce of the car – the drivers definitely make a little bit more of a difference than what they have is, I'd say, the last two or three years."

As far as your driving and racecraft, do you think you are you in your prime right now?

"I definitely do. I think I physically feel as good inside the car as I ever have. I just need those lucky breaks to come when I need them and to really perform at the right time."

Luck is part of it, isn't it?

"It definitely is. I mean, there are moving parts on these cars. Sometimes the break, sometimes they stay together. There are so many pieces that have to be just right or else you don't win a championship."

Four races into the season, how do you feel about things so far?

"Pretty good. I think our speed could be a little bit better, but I think we're running well in the races and we're really peaking at the right time in the races. I would like to see us get more stage points. That's something that is going to be key when it comes down to regular season points. Overall, I'm happy with the start as far as how we're performing on race day. I think that are some things that we need to work on, but it's nothing that we can really work on or fix during the race. It's getting our cars a little bit faster here and there."

It's so hard to win at this level. Is it the ultimate rush to win one of these Cup races? I mean, it doesn't happen too often for any driver or team.

"That's what makes it so gratifying. You appreciate the wins a little bit more the later you go in your career because they are so hard to get. And this year, between RCR and Ganassi, those are two teams that really haven't contended on a regular basis week-in and week-out for the last four or five years, and now they're up front consistently. That's two other teams that we're going to have to deal with and it just adds to the list to the good competitors that are out there."

Do you have a game plan or a rhythm that you want to fall into as the season progresses?

"Yeah, you have to have a game plan. It's so hard to be 100 percent every single week and to have your best racecar on the track every single week. That's really, really tough for the teams to maintain; especially for our shop. We're supplying cars for Furniture Row and for us, so there is a little bit of a cycle there that takes place and you try and run well when you really have to run well and that's in the Chase. You spend a lot of the summer months working on things and tracks you're going to visit in the Chase and that makes you better overall. I think that's one thing we've done well so far in my career. Once we've gotten to the Chase, we've performed at a pretty high level."

Is winning the championship the last hurdle you want to get over in your career?

"For sure. I mean there are a few things I want to check off before my career is over. A championship is obviously the highest one, but there are races that are very, very important to me."

Which ones?

"I think California is one of my highest. It is probably my highest priority of all. I just like the racetrack. It's very fun. I've run really well here and have had a lot of chances to win here and haven't. That kind of feeds my passion to run well at this track. The Brickyard is up there for the prestige, but you like to run well at your good tracks, like your Richmonds and Martinsvilles. You like to capitalize at tracks where you know there is nothing holding you back from winning at."