Three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin faced a challenging start to the 2025 NASCAR season, only reaching victory lane at the 22nd race of the year. Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace secured 23XI Racing’s first win of the season, ending a long drought. Hamlin’s reflections on Wallace’s Bubba Wallace NASCAR winning struggle reveal the harsh realities of the sport and insightful advice for persevering through it.
Hamlin Reflects on Wallace’s Winless Streak and Mental Strategies
During a recent media appearance, Denny Hamlin discussed Bubba Wallace’s streak of 100 races without a victory prior to his recent IndyCar win. Hamlin highlighted how Wallace managed to endure the pressure by separating positive moments from setbacks. He emphasized the difficulty of sustaining this mindset, noting that even highly successful drivers face more losses than wins.
“It seemed like on the bad days he was able to compartmentalize that and then think about the positives versus everything sucks all the time. That’s a tough way to live…We’re in a business where if you can win 5 percent of the time, you’re a Hall of Famer. You’re going to lose.” —Denny Hamlin, via Autoweek
Hamlin described NASCAR as predominantly a losing venture rather than one of constant triumph. For racers to maintain motivation, both drivers and their teams must identify smaller successes within races, even when overall victory is out of reach. This philosophy originated from early guidance Hamlin received from former Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Mike Ford, which remains pivotal in his approach.
“This is a losing business, and you have to find happiness in some other way other than actually winning. Mike Ford told me that early in my career, and that was the best advice I’ve ever been given.” —Denny Hamlin
The Importance of Setting Incremental Goals for Sustained Performance
Hamlin advised Bubba Wallace, driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry, to consistently aim for small achievements every race weekend. He noted that the grueling nature of Cup series events demands mental resilience and steady progress, not just the pursuit of outright victories. Wallace’s improvement over the past year aligns with adopting this mindset and approach.
“It’s something that certainly needed to be told to Bubba that you’ve got to find these little goals that you feel good about because it’s tough out there. It’s up to you to put in the work and it’s up to you to want it and then let your abilities go from there. It just seems over the last 12 months the performance is definitely better.” —Denny Hamlin
Hamlin Assesses His Chances for the 2025 Regular Season Title
In the latest episode of his podcast, Denny Hamlin, who has won four races this season, shared his outlook on contending for the regular season championship. With only four races remaining before the playoffs, Hamlin stood 20 points behind leader Chase Elliott, holding fourth place behind William Byron and Kyle Larson.
He acknowledged that competing against Hendrick Motorsports’ strong contenders remains a difficult challenge, particularly as Watkins Glen’s road course looms as a crucial and tough track to defend points. Hamlin expressed cautious optimism for a close battle but indicated that he may require some breaks to stay competitive.
“It’s going to be close. I mean, it is what it is. I spotted these boys a race. I think it’ll be difficult. Iowa, Daytona, Watkins Glen … I need to hold serve at Watkins Glen. It’s still I mean I’m behind, not ahead. So, I’m probably going to need a little bit of help, but yeah, we’ll see.” —Denny Hamlin
Hamlin’s remarks demonstrate his determination to remain competitive despite the stiff competition and the challenges ahead. The coming weeks will be crucial for both Hamlin’s No. 11 team and the drivers at 23XI Racing, including Bubba Wallace, as they aim to position themselves well for the playoffs.
Navigating the Realities of NASCAR Competition
Hamlin’s candid assessment of NASCAR as a predominantly losing business underlines the mental toughness required to succeed and stay motivated in the sport. His advice to Bubba Wallace about focusing on achievable goals each race weekend reflects a broader truth in racing—consistent incremental progress often paves the way to ultimate success. As Wallace breaks through his long winless streak, the lessons from Hamlin and crew chief Mike Ford resonate deeply within the 23XI Racing team.
With the regular season title race still up for grabs, the upcoming events carry significant weight for championship hopefuls. How Hamlin and Wallace translate their resilience and strategic focus into results may shape not only their playoff trajectories but also their longer-term legacies in NASCAR.
