Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin returns to the spotlight this week, speaking candidly at the Denny Hamlin Daytona 500 media session ahead of NASCAR’s legendary event in Daytona, Florida. As he prepares for another run at victory, Hamlin opens up about newfound motivations, overcoming challenges, and the relentless pursuit of a fourth Daytona 500 win.
Hamlin’s Mindset: Rekindling the Fire
After an off-season filled with personal reflection, Denny Hamlin admits the journey back to race-ready form is ongoing. He acknowledged,
“Good. Feel like we’re kind of getting back into the swing of things. Certainly, would be lying and saying I am as highly motivated as I’ve been in years past. I said last week that I would just take some time. Every day at a racetrack is certainly getting there. I know I’m way too competitive to just go through the motions. So, as we get on the racetrack and go through practices and qualifying, we are slowly getting there.”
The admission reveals Hamlin’s trademark intensity, albeit measured this season by real-life events that have momentarily shifted his focus.
He discussed the past few months as both a challenge and a source of drive, crediting the last race his father witnessed as a turning point:
“Everyone has different motivating factors, no doubt about it. I feel good about the last race my Dad got to see I was at my best. He got to see as good as I’ll ever be, he got to see that moment. I don’t know where it goes from here, but I certainly feel as though I’m a competitive person and I’m motivated by winning. Doesn’t matter what I’m doing, whether I’m racing or doing a hobby or whatever that might be. I just haven’t been in that fierce competitor type of mindset in months and months now. It’s just now starting to get back. Last week was a good warm up for that. Still wasn’t all the way there, I’m still not all the way there today, but we’re getting there.”
Staying Committed Through Change
As the Cup Series format evolves and personal stakes fluctuate, Hamlin reaffirms his commitment drawn from within. He explained,
“Simply because of how competitive I am, that’s where it comes out. The format is a little different, so it’s not going to be all about the one race. How can I distribute that effort into those 10 races at the end of the season, all of that is going to matter. But, it’s still there. I’ve still got plenty of fire left and plenty of ability left and it will happen more natural than you would think.”
Returning to regular routine is key. The rhythm of practice laps and car preparation helps the veteran racer lock in:
“It’s days like this where I’m getting fitted back into the racecar, braking and going up through the gears. Those are the things that really get you excited for this race weekend. For me personally, it’s a way for me to understand I’m back in the routine now.”
Pursuing a Fourth Daytona 500 Victory
A fourth triumph at the Daytona 500 would place Hamlin among an elite group of drivers, a fact not lost on him:
“Every win that gets you here puts you in a certain list. The list is so small at that four number, it certainly was on my mind on the last lap last year when we were leading, that we are going to get another one. I’ve just been really lucky to have the opportunities I’ve had to win these races, but also been very unfortunate in the NextGen era to not have won more. I feel as though the opportunity will be there, and hopefully we can put ourselves in position to move ourselves up that Daytona 500 winners board.”
With William Byron and other top competitors in the mix, and the complexity of the current Cup Series landscape, Daytona remains fiercely unpredictable — something Hamlin acknowledges in his approach.
A Role in NASCAR’s Evolution
Beyond driving duties, Hamlin has played a part in changing NASCAR for fellow drivers and teams. Regarding his involvement, he stated,
“I heard from most of all the team owners and one way, shape, or form. We really stuck our neck out for all the race teams. There’s no doubt it would have not lasted as long as it did if we were just looking to change for ourselves. We were very adamant that the changes had to be given to the rest of the race teams and hopefully they can appreciate that.”
This broader perspective is one shared by other key figures, such as Joe Gibbs, who remains a pivotal presence in both Hamlin’s career and his personal journey through loss and renewal.
Physical Challenges and Recovery
Hamlin has navigated significant physical challenges, especially following shoulder fatigue late in past seasons. He assessed his health after a recent race:
“It was ok. Truthfully, it wasn’t too bad. Most of the soreness came the day after, where usually at the end of 2023, I was getting fatigued a bit at the end of races. I didn’t have any of that at the Clash, so I’m in a better position then I was then, but we are only on race one of the long season. I think it’s yet to be seen where it goes from here.”
Looking ahead to more demanding tracks like Martinsville, Hamlin described his preparation:
“Really the preparation happens during the week, making sure I’m activating all the muscles behind it so I’m helping support it. I don’t have the rotator like it’s supposed to be there. Most of that work comes during the week. Pre-race I do things to try to loosen it up as much as I possibly can. It’s going to be week to week. But on the racetrack, I don’t think there will be a time where I’m holding the car back from performing.”
Personal Bonds and Support
In difficult times, Hamlin found solace in relationships with icons like Joe Gibbs and the outreach of Michael Jordan. On this, he shared,
“No. He obviously reached out multiple times and offered any help he could. Since we were in Winston-Salem, he knew a lot of people in that area. Not really, we didn’t talk about that kind of stuff, more so with Joe (Gibbs). Joe is certainly someone who is very, very, special to me and has been. Joe beat me to the hospital the night of. He’s just unbelievable how he is as a leader and obviously he has been through it. My connection on that personal level is more so with Joe, and it’s always been that way since he took over as my at-track Dad.”
Hamlin described Gibbs’ commitment to his family, noting,
“He made it a point to go if not every week, every other week to visit him for the bulk of last year. Talked stories with him, prayed with him. My Dad was really trying to get right with the Lord last year and felt like Joe was someone who kind of helped with that. It’s not like my parents lived right down the street, he took his time out of his day to go visit him and share stories. I know my dad really, really appreciated that.”
Reflecting on Format Changes and the Chase
Hamlin is pragmatic about changes to the playoff format, assessing its impact on his own prospects and the broader field:
“I don’t think so, but who knows. I don’t think we would have won anyway because I had multiple blown engines in the playoffs last year. Those are the things the champion will not have. I don’t think you are going to have multiple DNF’s in 10 races. I think you can have a bad race, I just don’t think multiple DNF’s are something you are going to be able to overcome without winning lots of races. I think the format is better for me, it’s better for the top six or seven who run up front every week. That’s who it’s going to benefit and that’s who the champion is going to be. The other people have flashes, but it’s always going to be the same six or seven.”
He also credits the intensity of competition from past greats such as Jimmie Johnson:
“It was amazing because I had to go against it, and it was really, really, really tough to beat. Back then things were different, the teams could build extremely fast race cars. The advantages your team could build into your car were just a lot bigger than what it is today. You can’t build that much speed in your car like you could back then. Those records probably won’t be broken because of how diversified the field is and how much parity is in our sport now. All I can speak to is what I competed against which was one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen and competed against in Jimmie (Johnson).
On-Track Challenges and the Importance of a Strong Start
Certain tracks stand out for their difficulty, with Hamlin singling out one above all:
“Darlington is the most challenging track. Just because of how narrow it is and how small of a lane you have to hit to go fast at that track, physically demanding. That’s definitely the far and away the toughest.”
Starting the season well is important, though not all-defining:
“Is it critical, no. But is it important, I think so. Starting the race season with two speedway races could cause panic if you think you should be one place and find yourself somewhere else after the first two races. If I’m down I won’t panic. Take a deep breath, we are about to go to the tracks where we can score 60 points. It’s all going to work itself out in the wash eventually, but there will be a two-race panic for some guys.”
Final Laps: The Daytona 500’s Unique Pressure
Hamlin provides insight into the high-stakes drama as the Daytona 500 nears its conclusion:
“I need you to tell me how much fuel I’ve got, where I’m at, how many teammates are around me, what line I’m in and how many laps are to go because it constantly changes. For me as a general rule of thumb, I want to be in the top eight inside 20 laps to go. I think that’s where you have to be. There’s not enough passing after that last stage until the very, very end and you are not going to do it from 15th. When you get inside that last fuel window and at that point it’s all circumstantial. Last year I thought for sure we were going to win it, just where we were and who we were racing and I was positioning ourselves and then you just crash. That’s just the Daytona 500 nowadays, getting crashed is a large possibility. I don’t think I’ve finished well in the NextGen era here, but I’ve ran well. I’ve been very unfortunate. I’m still trying to figure out how to finish these races without getting crashed in any way, shape, or form.”
Fan Support and Shifting Perceptions
In recent months, Hamlin has noticed a shift in fan sentiment:
“I’m into whatever the fans want to do. It’s the noise that you really want. The fans have been really supportive over the last few months and after Phoenix and how that ended it’s just how many comments and messages I got from fans. It made me feel like I was a champion even though I didn’t have the ring and the trophy. They certainly made me feel like I had accomplished what I was hoping to accomplish. If the boos turn to cheers, that will make me happy.”
On Records and Rivalries
Discussing the difficulty of securing consecutive Daytona 500 wins, Hamlin said,
“It’s hard. You’re going to need things to fall your way. In 2021, I legit thought we were going to get three in-a-row, we led the most laps in that race. Just was really fast, but didn’t work out on the last pit sequence. There’s an element of fortunate there that has to fall your way. Last year, he was fortunate on the last lap there, but if you put yourself in the top eight you can get fortunate at times. He puts himself in the top eight which is what matters.”
Team Dynamics and Rookie Opportunities
With Corey Heim entering the Cup car at Daytona, Hamlin sees benefits for both the rookie and the Toyota camp:
“It’s both. Giving him an opportunity on a Superspeedway to learn the NextGen car and how different it’s going to drive and feel and draft compared to a truck. But the other one is the numbers, it certainly seems at the end of these races it comes down to numbers and manufacturers and the more we can put on the racetrack the better opportunity we are going to have to win.”
Keeping NASCAR Simple for Fans
Hamlin supports simplifying NASCAR’s rules and processes, especially for newcomers:
“The more simple things can be, the better off it will be. It helps the casual fan to understand when they are watching the duel tomorrow that they are just looking for the top two finishers, versus who falls back on time and things like that. I understand why things were the way they were for so long, but simplicity is the winner today.”
Race Strategy: Leading or Chasing?
The decision to lead or follow at the Daytona 500’s climax is tactical for Hamlin:
“It’s all circumstantial. I never don’t want to be in the lead, but I feel really good about being second or third. It all depends on who I’m racing against and what are their tendencies and who can I use their tendencies to help myself. There’s no bad time to be up front. While the wrecks start up front, it’s typically because the leader throws a block that then causes a chain reaction. I typically don’t throw crazy blocks that cause the wrecks because I feel comfortable up front. I don’t mind someone getting beside me and we race it out. It’s really the crazy blocks that end up causing the wrecks. I feel good about controlling the race and feel like we have a good chance if we do.”
Adrenaline in the Final Stages
The closing laps aren’t just intense for fans, but for drivers as well. Hamlin described the physical and mental toll:
“You do. I think if you looked at everyone’s heart rate raises and continues to raise as it gets closer to the end. It’s very typical, adrenaline starts to hit at that moment. Who can slow the game down and make those crucial decisions at the end are the ones who usually end up winning. You just have to find a way to slow it all down.”
Remembering Early Challenges and Heroes
Hamlin reflected on his early days and the influence of drivers like Greg Biffle:
“My biggest memory of Greg Biffle was just racing him in the Xfinity Series, or O’Reilly Series now 20 some years ago. I was a rookie and he was one of the Cup guys who would come down and race on Saturday’s and just trying to beat that guy was incredibly difficult, if not impossible. He was just the gold standard for me when I came into the sport in 2004 on speed.”
Looking Ahead: Hopes and Expectations for Daytona
With the Denny Hamlin Daytona 500 media day concluded, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran stands poised for a fresh run, his sights set on historic victory and renewed purpose. His commentary echoed through NASCAR circles, emphasizing the crucial blend of experience, resilience, and evolving motivation. The Daytona 500 remains the proving ground where champions rise—and for Hamlin, another comeback could be just ahead, with team support, fan anticipation, and the legacy of past battles fueling his return to form.
