Denny Hamlin recently expressed concerns about Richard Childress Racing’s ability to maintain control on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s superspeedway, noting that its cars might become unstable when the track gets hot and slick. Austin Hill and teammate Jesse Love, however, reject this criticism, asserting that their team has already overcome such challenges.
On his podcast Actions Detrimental, Hamlin remarked that RCR’s vehicles could be “a little squirrely” under certain conditions at Atlanta. Despite this, he praised Hill’s overall program, highlighting the team’s strengths. Hill directly addressed these doubts, stating he believes the handling issue was resolved last season and that their cars will perform well regardless of track conditions.
I believe that both of our cars are gonna be really good no matter if it’s in the hot and slick or cold and fast,
Hill said.
Love supported Hill’s assertion, explaining that RCR has focused on tuning the balance between speed and control specifically for Atlanta’s unique track behavior. Their confidence suggests that any previous weaknesses are no longer a factor heading into the upcoming race.
Daytona Success Bolsters Hill’s Superspeedway Reputation
The exchange takes place shortly after Hill’s commanding victory at the Daytona International Speedway season opener, where he extended his drafting track wins to 11. This victory further solidified Hill’s reputation, even earning public recognition from Hamlin, a Cup Series veteran known for his candid opinions.
Their cars are the fastest. There’s no disputing that they’ve got less drag. They certainly have more horsepower,
Hamlin noted during his podcast.
Hamlin also lauded Hill’s skills, emphasizing his expertise on superspeedways and how challenging it is for any competitor to outpace him there. Hamlin’s respect is underscored by the fact that he nearly made a move to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this offseason but was unable to finalize a sponsorship deal in time.
Hill’s Proven Record Highlights Superspeedway Mastery
Hill’s statistics support his prowess: 11 of his 15 wins in the O’Reilly series have come on drafting tracks, representing a career-best winning percentage of 73.33% among drivers with multiple victories. His ability to maneuver through tight, high-stakes pack racing often gives him the edge in close finishes.
This was evident in his Daytona win, where Hill executed crucial blocking moves in the race’s final laps to maintain his lead. Hamlin praised these defensive efforts, pointing out that many drivers lack the experience or tools to compete against such a fast car.
It’s going to be hard to pass the fastest car with the least amount of drag,
Hamlin said.
Upcoming Atlanta Race Poses New Challenges, but Hill Remains Optimistic
Atlanta Motor Speedway presents different testing conditions compared to Daytona, with the track’s surface behavior varying depending on temperature and weather. Hamlin’s observation about RCR’s cars handling instability when the track heats up was based on prior experience, although Hill and Love have confidence in the adjustments made over the offseason.
If Hill’s recent performance at Daytona is any measure, he steps into the Atlanta race as the competitor to beat. Hamlin himself acknowledged that Hill will be “a heavy favorite” to win, even against seasoned veterans. This level of respect from a driver with Hamlin’s background reflects Hill’s rising status as a superspeedway threat in NASCAR.
Denny Hamlin mentioned on Actions Detrimental that the one potential kink in the RCR speedway cars' armor was that they can get a little squirrely at Atlanta if the track is hot & slick. I asked and Austin Hill said he thinks they fixed that last year. Jesse Love backed that up… pic.twitter.com/iU1fcLqCSH
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) February 21, 2026
