Denny Hamlin warns NASCAR lower series could undergo dramatic changes as financial pressures mount on Xfinity and Truck Series teams, increasing fears among fans and insiders. Hamlin’s outspoken comments and speculation have drawn an intense emotional response, highlighting growing concerns about the future of the sport’s developmental levels.
Hamlin Raises Alarm Over Spec Car Expansion in Lower NASCAR Series
In his recent discussions, Denny Hamlin, a veteran driver with Joe Gibbs Racing, pointed to growing unease within the industry. He highlighted the significant income gap between the premier Cup Series and the two lower divisions—the Xfinity and Truck Series—and suggested this disparity may soon force a profound overhaul. As the Cup Series continues its shift toward Next–Gen vehicles, which require teams to utilize standardized, single-supplier components, Hamlin warned that similar mandates might soon reach the developmental series.
Hamlin referenced industry rumors that NASCAR could require Truck Series teams to adopt spec trucks as early as 2028, a move that could bring unprecedented financial strain. He questioned the feasibility of this plan, especially given the existing challenges lower series teams already face:
“The business model is going to continue to get harder and harder,”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
“And from what I’m hearing in the Truck Series, is that NASCAR is telling them is what I’ve been told, this is a rumor. I don’t know that this is factual, but it’s a rumor that, you know, they need them to go to spec trucks by 2028. How in the world are they going to be able to afford that?”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Economic Shifts and Fallout for Teams
Hamlin provided further detail on how the current business infrastructure beneath the Cup Series supports team survivability. Traditionally, Cup teams offset steep equipment costs by reselling their used race cars to Xfinity and Truck Series organizations. Those lower series teams, in turn, could compete with these hand-me-down vehicles without shouldering the expense of purchasing entirely new race cars.
Hamlin fears that forcing spec vehicles on these teams would upend the established cost-saving mechanisms and wipe out this trickle-down system. He explained the potential chain reaction with urgency:
“Everyone’s going to scrap all their stuff, and it’s going to happen in the Xfinity Series as well,”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
“I mean, those guys are running on cars that are old, old, old, old, old. And it used to be passed down from the Cup Series, so the Cup teams could recoup a little bit of money from their investment.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
This shift would force Xfinity and Truck teams to invest heavily in brand-new equipment, adding steep costs to already stretched budgets. Hamlin illustrated just how central the old system was to these operations:
“Xfinity would be racing two, three, five-year-old Cup cars. Now, they are all having to keep building new stuff, right? And so that really takes its toll on the teams. It drives up their cost.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Fans Lash Out at Spec Car Rumors and Threaten to Abandon NASCAR
NASCAR‘s community of fans and supporters voiced a strong negative reaction to Hamlin’s warning and the potential changes. Many expressed outright anger, disappointment, and a sense of looming loss for the sport they love. The conversation quickly turned emotional, with commenters openly threatening to leave NASCAR if the proposed spec vehicle model is pushed through both the Xfinity and Truck Series.
“So they’re going to ruin the two best series they have? Sounds like I’ll be watching CARS Tour and IndyCar full time by then,”
—Fan comment
Many others lamented the poor financial prospects of the lower-tier teams and questioned how they could possibly survive the increased operational costs. One vocal supporter drew attention to the existing struggles faced by these organizations:
“If that does, with the paltry purses and payouts the Trucks and Xfinity have, then just shut out the lights on NASCAR entirely,”
—Fan comment
The criticism extended to larger strategic decisions made by NASCAR leadership. Another fan openly wondered about the motivations behind such transformative changes:
“So they really want to just kill this sport? Why?”
—Fan comment
Questions Loom Over the Future of NASCAR’s Development Levels
While NASCAR’s shift toward spec vehicles in the Cup Series introduced marginal competitive parity, the ripple effects for the Xfinity and Truck Series could be devastating. Teams already face the burden of low prize purses and rising costs, and a new requirement to invest in spec-only machinery could mean the end for some. With fans threatening to defect to other racing leagues like the CARS Tour and IndyCar, NASCAR leadership now faces intense scrutiny and must weigh the potential benefits against the risk of irreparable damage to its developmental ecosystem.
Hamlin’s statements, underscored by passionate reactions from both team insiders and the broader NASCAR audience, have placed this issue in sharp focus for all key stakeholders. Whether or not the rumors become reality, the intense frustration and fear over the future of the lower series are unmistakable, and the direction NASCAR chooses next could decide the fate of entire teams and their loyal fan base.
