Denny Hamlin has strongly rejected the idea that fans would lose interest in NASCAR if a driver secured the championship title before the final race, emphasizing how Denny Hamlin NASCAR fan opinions differ from common assumptions. Speaking in response to recent debates over the playoff format, Hamlin pointed to data he says demonstrates what fans truly value in the sport.
Hamlin Pushes Back Against Arguments About Losing Viewers
Hamlin highlighted feedback collected by NASCAR, showing that race wins matter more to fans than points standings or playoff drama. On his podcast, he remarked that fan surveys leave no room for doubt. According to Hamlin,
don’t care about points as much as they care about who wins a particular race.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver. He doubled down on this by citing survey results sent to the fan council, stating,
There’s been a million surveys, but the fans have absolutely spoken in their fan council survey that NASCAR sends out that they don’t care about points as much as they care about who wins a particular race. They made that abundantly clear,
— Denny Hamlin, Driver.
Hamlin was especially frustrated with industry insiders who argue that letting a driver clinch the championship early would hurt television ratings. He claimed these concerns are overblown and disconnected from genuine fan interest, insisting,
So, the whole argument that some of the shills are making is that, ‘Oh, well you don’t want someone clinching early, people will tune out.’ That is absolutely not true. People will tune in to watch Chase [Elliott], and [Kyle] Larson, and the popular drivers.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver. He stressed that personalities like Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson keep fans engaged regardless of championship scenarios.
Brad Keselowski Adds to the Debate Over NASCAR’s Current Focus
Hamlin’s statements came soon after Brad Keselowski voiced frustration over how televised coverage prioritizes playoff transfer scenarios above individual race winners. Following the Charlotte ROVAL Round of 12, Keselowski posted his concerns online, saying,
Clear as day, not enough talk about winning and winners (star power) but covering 15th for known elimination is easier for media storylines,
— Brad Keselowski, Driver. He added,
Fans are voting with their eyeballs and it’s definitively a net loss for the sport vs full season format. Now is the time to fix this.
— Brad Keselowski, Driver.
This exchange has intensified scrutiny of how NASCAR and its media partners balance coverage between points battles and the recognition of standout performances by drivers such as Shane van Gisbergen.
Focus on Playoff Points Overshadows Race Victors, Says Hamlin
The most recent race at Charlotte’s ROVAL circuit underscored the issue, as Shane van Gisbergen dominated the event but the primary broadcast attention focused on the fight for the last playoff spot between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain. Although the on-track drama caught many eyes, Hamlin observed that this focus came at the cost of celebrating the winning driver.
Hamlin argued the structure forced fans to wait almost through the entire broadcast for a brief highlight, noting,
I think the race was three hours and some change, and your moment came at hour 2:59:59. I mean, at the buzzer,
— Denny Hamlin, Driver. He pointed out that highlighting action after the main event concluded is inadequate, adding,
… It wasn’t even at the buzzer, it was two minutes after the buzzer. The game was over and that was what your shining moment was.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver.
What This Means for NASCAR and Its Coverage
Hamlin’s and Keselowski’s pointed feedback draws attention to a growing divide between how NASCAR’s leadership believes races should be structured and what fans, according to surveys, actually want. As the playoffs continue and the tension intensifies among drivers, fans, and broadcasters, the debate about balancing points battles with celebrating race winners is unlikely to subside soon.
With key voices like Denny Hamlin vocally supporting NASCAR fan opinions, the sport faces a critical moment to reconsider whether its format and media narrative align with what keeps viewers engaged week after week. Key figures like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Shane van Gisbergen, Joey Logano, and Ross Chastain remain in the spotlight as NASCAR navigates these important questions.
Clear as day, Not enough talk about winning and winners (star power) but covering 15th for known elimination is easier for media storylines.
Fans are voting with their eyeballs and it’s definitively a Net loss for the sport vs full season format. Now is the time to fix this. https://t.co/2IqMWOe5ge
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) October 6, 2025
