The recent races at Daytona International Speedway, which closed out the regular Cup Series season, brought mixed reactions from fans and drivers. Denny Hamlin on Xfinity Daytona edge became a focal point, as Hamlin spotlighted why the Xfinity race outshined its Cup Series counterpart in both excitement and on-track competitiveness.
Hamlin Breaks Down the Xfinity Advantage at Daytona
In the aftermath of the Coke Zero 400, speculation grew about what made the Xfinity event so much more dramatic compared to the Cup race. For Hamlin, who is no stranger to Daytona’s challenges, the core difference lies in the design of the cars themselves. The Gen 7 vehicle, introduced for the Cup Series in 2022, has sparked debate among both spectators and drivers. Many argue that while the racing looks intense, the Xfinity Series consistently offers more overtaking opportunities and dynamic position changes.
Hamlin shared his candid view, underscoring how the Xfinity package gives drivers greater space to maneuver and rewards aggression throughout the pack, leading to unpredictable outcomes. Reflecting on his Daytona record, Hamlin admitted,
“My record at Daytona, guys, is horrible,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
He went on to describe his typical approach:
“I just stop racing and wait on the field to thin because that’s what to me watching the race from about 50 car lengths behind for most of the time. It seemed like the race, and we talked about on this podcast before it really took a turn when the field thinned out.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
Discussing the Xfinity cars specifically, he pointed out the distinct experience:
“There was more room to move. You know, (Ryan) Blaney coming from 13th in the final couple laps, he had room to navigate. That’s what’s so great about the Xfinity cars and the Xfinity package.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
Hamlin continued his critique of the Cup Series cars, noting issues with the tightly packed fields:
“If you look there’s space between the cars. They’re not right on each other all the way around the racetrack, where a lot of times, the NextGen, we just get log jammed in this two or three-wide racing. It looks good, but you can’t really go anywhere.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
While Hamlin acknowledged that the conclusion of the Cup race did offer exciting moments as the field spread out, he stressed that it took until the final laps for the race to become truly engaging.
“But at the end of the race, there was enough chaos up front, enough air moving where it created some good passing, and it looked like a very entertaining race from my seat.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
Warning for Shane Van Gisbergen as Playoffs Approach
Aside from analyzing car performance, Hamlin also weighed in on another prominent storyline heading into the NASCAR playoffs — the performance of Shane van Gisbergen. The only driver equaling Hamlin’s win tally this season, van Gisbergen has drawn attention, especially as he faces the challenge of adapting to oval tracks.
Hamlin offered a realistic assessment of the Kiwi’s position in the standings, given his set of bonus points and the level of competition.
“It’ll be a challenge. But here, he’s got twenty-two actual bonus points… he’s not in a bad spot. All he needs is a few of these guys to have lackluster days and he goes in there, finishes top twenty, top twenty, and he’ll find himself in a decent spot going in that last cutoff race.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
Recognizing improvement, Hamlin added,
“He’s been progressing and getting better on the ovals. At the beginning of the year, he was definitely a last-place contender on the ovals, but he’s not that now. I think he’s putting himself in the low 20s to teens sometimes.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
However, Hamlin remains skeptical of van Gisbergen’s chances to make it deep into the postseason:
“Does he make the round of eight? No,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
The playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway, where recent results set the stage for compelling battles. Van Gisbergen’s efforts will be closely watched, especially since he finished 20th there in the regular season, while Hamlin secured the victory on that track, underscoring his expertise and confidence as the new NASCAR postseason unfolds.
As fans and drivers alike anticipate the next round of racing action, questions about car design and driver adaptability will remain central themes, shaping the narrative of this year’s Cup Series playoffs and beyond.
