Denny Hamlin‘s dual role as NASCAR driver and team owner places him in a rare and complicated position during races. Competing at age 44, Hamlin must regularly decide between his personal ambitions behind the wheel and the interests of the 23XI Racing team he co-owns with Michael Jordan. These choices are not common for most racers, who usually only need to weigh their performance against that of rivals—not their own teams.
Stock car racing in NASCAR naturally brings difficult decisions, especially when managing resources like fuel and tire wear or when faced with intense, strategic battles against other drivers. However, the dilemmas multiply for someone like Hamlin, who may find himself racing directly against his own organization on the track, leading to unique conflicts of interest not often experienced by others in the series.
Tension on the Track: Hamlin’s Experiences This Season
As the season has progressed, Hamlin has found himself in strong form, even as the 23XI Racing team overcame a sluggish start and began showing improvements in their performance. The FireKeepers Casino 400 provided one of the clearest examples of Hamlin’s predicament: needing to compete directly with Tyler Reddick—his own team’s driver—while pursuing individual victory in the Cup Series.
Discussing these challenging moments on the ‘Dale Jr. Download’ podcast with fellow driver and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hamlin highlighted the complexities of maintaining a clear boundary between his duties as a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and as an executive focused on 23XI Racing’s growth.
Hamlin recounted a decisive moment during the Michigan race against Reddick. As the competition tightened ahead of the final pit stop, Hamlin shared,
“Right before the last pit stop, I passed Reddick, and then at that point, I made a run at the top two, and I kind of was just getting stalled behind them. I really wasn’t making much progress, and if anything, kind of dropping back from him.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver & Team Owner
When Reddick attempted to pass Hamlin’s No. 11 toyota/”>Toyota from the inside lane, Hamlin elaborated on the tough choices he faces, stating,
“I got a decision to make. Do I fight him tooth and nail, knowing every spot matters, especially inside this 60-70 lap window, or do I potentially compromise both our chances to win?”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver & Team Owner
The timing of a caution and delayed pit stops gave Hamlin a strategic advantage, showing how quickly the tide can turn in NASCAR. Yet, these critical moments are filled with internal conflict for Hamlin—a sentiment he openly acknowledges.
Putting Himself First at Crucial Moments
Hamlin spoke honestly about where his priorities lie when it comes to racing against his own team.
“I’m always going to prioritize me winning first. But I feel like I’ll never do anything to compromise both of us [him and Reddick], not having a chance to win,”
he said. —Denny Hamlin, Driver & Team Owner. He continued,
“I’m always gonna root for me first, selfishly, because I’ve got a much shorter window at winning than what he and that team do. So, on Sundays, I totally concentrate on me unless I’m out of it because of damage or something like that.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver & Team Owner
For Hamlin, the shift from competitor to owner happens after the final lap is run. He described his post-race mindset by explaining,
“When I get in the plane on the ride home, that’s when I start working on, ‘Okay, how can they [23XI Racing] be better? What did they do? How did their race go? What was going on?’ I’m more inquisitive post-race than I am during it.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver & Team Owner
The Implications of Hamlin’s Dual Responsibility
Hamlin’s situation is unique in the contemporary NASCAR landscape, where few drivers also serve as team owners. The pressure of chasing victories for himself while nurturing the success of drivers like Tyler Reddick creates a tense, ongoing internal battle. Each decision made on the track can impact not only his standing in races like those at Michigan and the FireKeepers Casino 400, but also the broader reputation and progress of 23XI Racing.
As Hamlin continues to navigate these challenging situations, his experiences offer insight into the complex relationships and conflicting priorities found within top-tier motorsport. For fans and observers, watching Hamlin juggle the high stakes of racing for Joe Gibbs Racing and running 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan sheds new light on what it means to compete at NASCAR’s highest level. The decisions Hamlin faces each Sunday could influence the outcome of the season, the future of his team, and the broader culture of collaboration and rivalry among drivers and owners alike.
