Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin spoke with the media on Friday before practice sessions for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, addressing the challenges and uncertainties surrounding the upcoming event. The focus keyword “Denny Hamlin Bristol NASCAR practice” reflects Hamlin’s analysis of how tire performance and race strategies could shape the competition this weekend.
Team Strategies Despite Secured Playoff Position
Hamlin explained that because he is already locked into the next playoff round, his preparation differs slightly from those still battling for advancement. However, he emphasized that each team member maintains different objectives based on their points standing. He stated,
“I don’t think so. I think everyone is kind of racing for themselves and their own agendas. Everyone within the teams probably has a little bit of a different agenda if you look at the points positions. Not really. We will just focus on trying to win for us.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Challenges in Understanding Tire Behavior During Practice
One of the key topics Hamlin touched upon was the uncertainty regarding how the tires would perform during the race weekend. With limited prior testing, teams are closely watching the practice sessions to see how tires wear and react under current track conditions.
He noted,
“Well, I think the track has some rubber already. I don’t think there has been any rain since last night, so we have some truck rubber up there. Xfinity in practice, I noticed a few guys starting to run it in. I think if it wears in these conditions, then it probably will wear tomorrow. Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t know. We will kind of wait and see. We will be highly anticipating what that first session does. It could close to the same or entirely different – we just don’t know, but I think whatever you have today – I don’t see a dramatic shift and it changing for tomorrow.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Impact of Recent Victory on Approach to Bristol Race
Hamlin acknowledged that while having a recent win reduces mental pressure, it does not dramatically alter the technical approach to this race weekend. The primary objective remains preparing the car to last the full race distance competitively.
He commented,
“Not really. I think the risks probably changes from inside the car. I don’t know that it changes a whole lot when it comes from set-up, certainly, it kind of depends on what happens with practice, right? If there is dramatic tire wear, certainly, there is some set-up things you can do to make that better, but ultimately, you are just trying to get to lap 500 up front, and with a shot, and I don’t know that changes a whole lot if you have a win or not. I think everyone is going to try to make their cars as fast as they can, and then you make setup decisions based on the tire wear you see to try to make it last that long.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Embracing Uncertainties Regarding Tires at Bristol
With no tire testing conducted prior to the event, Hamlin expressed excitement about the unpredictability this brings to the competition. He expects that teams who adapt well to the tire behavior will gain a competitive edge.
He shared,
“It certainly does. None of the teams have tested this tire, that I know of, so there has been no tire test. We are all coming in here pretty cold, and so, I definitely think there is an opportunity to create comers and goers. People that nail the tire setup and those that didn’t. I think there is a higher level of anticipation because of that.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Performance Across Different Tracks
Hamlin expressed confidence in the Joe Gibbs Racing team’s consistent performance across various circuits, acknowledging some struggles earlier in the season but noting improvements moving forward.
He remarked,
“Certainly, we have a good shot at it. I think that the Gibbs team in general doesn’t have a weak track, but we had weak performances earlier in the year. If you look at Las Vegas, I don’t think any of our cars were fast at that race. I can think of one or two other races in the beginning of the season where we all kind of struggled, and they were all tracks where typically we are pretty strong. I think we’ve hemmed that up a little bit, where we’ve identified some of the philosophies that we did that weren’t right, and so now, certainly, every weekend we go there and one of the Gibbs cars should be in the top-three or so in speed and have a shot to win.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Reflections on Last Year’s Loudon Race and Rain Effects
Reflecting on the prior year’s race at Loudon, Hamlin recalled the challenging wet conditions and the difficulties those created in driving and strategy.
He said,
“I don’t have a great recollection of it. It is not part of my mindset totally, quite yet as far as going back and learning track history. Certainly, it is on the forefront of our team and what we are focused on. It is always an interesting track, but that was the first time I remember being on a higher speed oval, I guess we did at Richmond, but on a higher speed oval – with these rain tires and the wet conditions, it was very, very sketchy from my standpoint. I just hope it stays dry from my point.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Expectations for PJ1 Track Compound Behavior
Regarding the PJ1, the adhesive goop applied to improve track grip, Hamlin expects its behavior to follow historical patterns, with transitions during the race as the substance darkens and then lightens over time due to tire wear and track conditions.
He explained,
“No, it looks very similar to what we’ve had in the past here in races during practice. Probably as the race goes on, it will go through a transition where it actually goes darker, and then it goes lighter by the end of the race as we start picking it up. I will be looking at the Xfinity race to see how that transition is going, but NASCAR and the track has said they’ve applied it the same as they always have, and they always have applied it very similar, so I wouldn’t expect that to be one of the variables that we are chasing.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Differences in Mindset When Locked Into Playoffs Versus Fighting Cutline
Hamlin contrasted his current comfortable position in the playoffs with the stress he experienced when his spot was on the line in previous seasons. He emphasized the mental relief that comes with being locked into the next round, allowing for a more relaxed mentality.
He shared,
“It was definitely different. I tried to approach each week the same when it comes to my process, but now certainly, your mind plays games with you though. There is certainly a different mindset when you are locked in versus being below the cut or being near the cut, so without a doubt, I’m resting much, much easier this year in the Playoffs in general. I’m way more loose with it, whatever the results are, the results are. So that helps, and on top of that, winning – it just makes me even looser. Certainly, yes, anytime I go into a cut race and I’m close to the cut, I have to pull myself back to not think about the things that I don’t control, and that is typically what I think drivers would say when they get in these scenarios where they are facing elimination – they are worrying about all of the things they can’t control. It is certainly a different mindset.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Reflections on the Pressure of Cutting into the Playoffs
Recalling the intensity of previous cutline battles, Hamlin conveyed confidence in his team’s speed, which eased mental burdens compared to drivers who must also worry about qualifying on speed alone.
He elaborated,
“I didn’t let it dominate me for sure, but I just knew that we were good enough. One of the variables if you make cutlines or not is that – are you fast enough? Just on merits or do you need someone to not be as good as they normally are, and then you avoid trouble. Well, when you are fast, you just have to worry about the avoiding trouble part of it – and not the, I also hope we have speed. It made it very easy for me to not have to worry about that last year, because I knew we were going to have one of those covered. The other part is the part you typically worry about. I would say for some that are near the cutline, I think some of them are probably thinking about I hope I have one of those two elements, and you need two to survive.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Mechanical Demands and Stress Factors at Bristol Motor Speedway
Hamlin highlighted the physical challenges the Bristol track places on both the car and driver due to its demanding layout and short straightaways. He pointed out how the introduction of the Next Gen car initially led to a spike in mechanical failures due to the intense loads experienced during competition at this track.
He explained,
“It does. When Next Gen was first introduced, this was one of the tracks where there was a lot of mechanical failures – mostly in the steering components, and some in the suspension components. A lot of it is because the car loads up so quickly and so hard at this track. It always has taken its toll, and I don’t know how many races we’ve run here, but it always seems like there is always one where the track or the conditions have taken its toll on the car, but beyond that – the driver as well. 1,000 corners you have to run around this place, and you don’t get a whole lot of a break on the straightaways because they are so short. For sure, it takes its toll on all of the above.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Anticipation Surrounding How Tire Variables Will Influence Race Outcomes
The combination of unknown tire performance, track conditions, and car setup leaves significant unpredictability in the race’s outcome. As teams monitor the evolving grip levels and wear patterns throughout practice and the Xfinity race, the first official session will be crucial for guiding strategic decisions.
Hamlin’s insights underline the delicate balance between adapting to evolving tire behavior and maintaining consistent performance during the high-pressure Bristol race, which remains one of the most physically and mechanically demanding events on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar.
