Denny Hamlin, a widely respected name in NASCAR, delivered a powerful call to action on national airwaves, urging Joe Gibbs Racing to sign him up for a superspeedway race in the Xfinity Series, in a bid to recapture the thrilling spirit that many feel is missing from modern Cup competition. During a spirited on-air reflection after the recent AG-Pro 300, Hamlin openly compared the excitement of Xfinity’s final laps to what he sees as increasingly formulaic racing in the top-tier Cup Series, signaling a rare and emotional public challenge for change within the sport. His comments underscore growing frustration among both fans and drivers, many of whom now view Xfinity as a battleground for genuine competition and unpredictability, while Cup racing faces accusations of monotony and lost spectacle.
Hamlin’s plea came at a poignant moment in NASCAR’s ongoing evolution. Once viewed primarily as a stepping stone, the Xfinity Series has emerged as a fiercely competitive racing environment where top veterans and hungry newcomers collide for glory. The recent AG-Pro 300 at Talladega, where Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s protégé Connor Zilisch was spun out in a dramatic finish that took multiple angles to review before Austin Hill was finally declared the winner, served as a stark demonstration of the series’ wild, edge-of-your-seat character. Hamlin pointed directly to these moments, saying, “Joe Gibbs Racing, if you’re hearing this, sign me up for an Xfinity Superspeedway race. That is how racing used to be. That’s how good we used to have it. We just never knew it, like these cars are moving around, you can create runs.” His words channeled both nostalgia and urgency, introducing a raw honesty about the stark contrast between the Xfinity and Cup experiences.
For long-time NASCAR fans, Hamlin’s call was more than just a throwback to the days when Xfinity was known as the Busch Series—a chaotic, testing ground that helped shape legends. Over decades, the league has shifted from its reputation as a development playground into one of stock car racing’s most hotly contested arenas. In recent years, rising enthusiasm for the Xfinity Series is rooted in its unpredictable finishes and genuine drama, traits that some believe have faded at the Cup level due to advances in technology and increased parity among teams. According to Hamlin, Xfinity’s “bubble effect”—where drivers are pushed apart rather than forced into contact—creates more organic battles, encouraging dynamic moves rather than the calculated patience now typical of Cup racing.
This difference has not gone unnoticed by other NASCAR icons. Dale Earnhardt Jr., a legendary driver and devoted analyst, sided with Denny Hamlin’s critique, especially after witnessing the 2025 Talladega event. On his Dirty Mo Media podcast, Dale Jr. amplified Hamlin’s analysis: “You saw it at the end of the race when they went all like ‘All right, we’re all f—— going,’ they can’t do nothing but run two by two.” He highlighted how the Cup Series’ Next Gen cars, despite technological strides, had inadvertently restricted passing and spontaneous action due to their heavily aerodynamic setups. Dale Jr. elaborated, “The car’s got way too much drag on it. And so I mean if they took some drag off this thing, big chunks, it would make the racing look completely different.” This consensus among respected veterans has thrown the spotlight on the Next Gen car’s unintended side effects and invigorated debate about NASCAR’s future direction.
The ripple effects from Hamlin’s declaration extend beyond the technical. They’re about identity. The Cup Series, long known as the crown jewel, has in recent years grappled with sameness among cars and close competition to the point of staleness. Drivers regularly run within mere tenths of a second of one another, while pit stops often lack the unpredictable turnover that once defined high-stakes NASCAR moments. The Xfinity Series, in contrast, has preserved certain rule differences—such as retaining the traditional five lug nut regulation—that allow for more drama during pit road battles. In the words of Denny Hamlin, “the racing is so good… it’s because they have the bubble effect, where when they get close to each other, they push each other away instead of it you know having to make contact.” He painted the Xfinity Series as a living testimony to the magic NASCAR once had, challenging the idea that a ‘lower-tier’ race means less excitement.
As debates over Cup racing’s lack of energy gain traction, Hamlin’s desire to return to the Xfinity Series feels less like a step back and more like the logical next chapter for a competitor committed to the sport’s roots. “Xfinity, it’s just man, it looks so fun. I want to do it before I retire. I want to do it. One more Xfinity race. I probably would want to do Daytona because the runs are a little bigger at Daytona than they are at Talladega, because the air can’t escape the racetrack. The track is narrower, so the runs are more plentiful at Daytona,” Hamlin explained. This longing for a competitive swan song is also a subtle critique—one that resonates even louder as drivers at the highest level reminisce about the raw, electrifying battles of years past.
While Hamlin looks ahead to new challenges, the wider NASCAR world grapples with structural and financial questions. Every fan knows the annual All-Star Race is synonymous with spectacle, and North Wilkesboro has often hosted some of its most memorable contests. To reignite interest this year, NASCAR introduced a radical “Run What Ya Brung” format, allowing teams unprecedented flexibility in setting up their cars—provided all modifications passed safety inspection. Enthusiasm was high. Imagining the chaos and innovation this would bring excited both drivers and spectators alike, especially with Next-Gen parity in mind. Hamlin’s view as both a driver and a fan was clear: “Generally speaking, if you’re just talking to me, the racecar driver and the fan, I’m gonna say, ‘Damn, I wish we had this.’ This would be fantastic. There could possibly be something that gets learned for the short-track package that could make it better.”
Yet Hamlin, pragmatic and frank, was quick to temper expectations. The cost of the Next Gen parts is a recurring barrier, and for most teams, risk-taking means potential ruin. He posed a tough question: “Who is going to pay for it?” His next words cut to the heart of NASCAR’s business challenge. “It’s because the teams don’t have enough money. This is what we’re fighting for. This is what we’ve been talking about. If you continue to lose money year after year, why would you just raise your hand and say, ‘Sure, I’ll take another million loss, give me a million? I’ll take a million loss.’ You can’t do that. It’s not sustainable.” Here, Denny Hamlin connected racing innovation directly to economic sustainability, a truth that impacts the sport as fiercely as any battle on the track.
Fans, for their part, have made their preferences unmistakable. Discussions around which series truly embodies the grit and glory of stock car competition now dominate forums and social media, with many aligning with Denny Hamlin’s sentiment that “Xfinity felt like it was real NASCAR.” When photo finishes, spinouts, and underdog victories light up Xfinity, debates inevitably grow louder: Has the Cup Series lost its edge? Can new formats or technical tweaks restore the drama, or does the heart of racing now beat strongest one level down from the summit?
The implications of Hamlin’s public plea are immense. If he does return to Xfinity competition, it may encourage other Cup veterans to test their skills in what has become, arguably, the most authentic crucible of NASCAR racing. Such moves could challenge perceptions of hierarchy within the motorsports world, as well as pressure Cup officials to rethink their approach to car design, scheduling, and the overall entertainment value of their series. Meanwhile, Hamlin’s call resonates as a tribute to both nostalgia and progress—a reminder that change can often be fueled by the voices of those who care the most deeply.
Looking forward, the spotlight remains on Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny Hamlin’s request was not a casual aside but a charged, heartfelt statement intended to shift the narrative of NASCAR’s present and future. If accepted, it could mark the beginning of a movement drawing Cup expertise back into the Xfinity ranks, raising the competitive bar and further igniting fan passion. If ignored, it risks confirming suspicions that Cup racing is drifting further from its exciting roots. As the next chapters unfold, both series will have to grapple with fundamental questions about what championship-level racing should be and how best to serve a demanding, loyal fan base hungry for authenticity.
No one can say for certain whether Denny Hamlin’s words will reshape NASCAR overnight, but the emotion and urgency in his message speak volumes about the state of the sport. As debates over technology, economics, and racing philosophy continue, one thing remains clear: fans and drivers alike yearn for the unpredictable thrills that defined the sport’s golden era. Whether those thrills are rediscovered in Xfinity or restored to the Cup Series, the challenge laid down by Denny Hamlin may prove to be the spark that drives NASCAR toward a new, electrifying chapter in its storied history.
