Denny Hamlin, a veteran driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, has candidly acknowledged his ongoing difficulties at Daytona in the Next-Gen car era, despite previously being regarded as one of the top Superspeedway competitors. Known for his three Daytona 500 victories before the Next-Gen era, Hamlin has yet to secure a plate race win with the new car, including the recent Coke 400 at Florida where he was involved in multiple crashes. His struggles at the track have prompted him to admit that his performance has been far from ideal.
Reviewing his recent history, Hamlin’s results at Daytona over the last eight races show a troubling pattern—finishing outside the top 20 in six of those and achieving no better than 17th place. This stark contrast from his previous success highlights the challenges he faces adapting to the Next-Gen car at this historic venue.
Insights from Hamlin on Tire Failures and Race Incidents Affecting His Results
In a recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin discussed the series of setbacks that have hampered his chances, including tire failures and damage from wrecks that have disrupted his races early on. These incidents not only curbed his momentum but also emphasized the difficulty he faces navigating the restrictive conditions at Daytona, contributing to his poor record there in recent years.
“I mean it could have gone both ways with the superspeedways, but certainly just not ideal. In the first stage of both of those races we ended up crashed. I mean my record at Daytona, guys, has been horrible. Horrible.” —Denny Hamlin, driver
Altered Strategies Amid Traffic Challenges in the Next-Gen Era
Hamlin’s frustration has led to a shift in his approach to Daytona races. Instead of aggressively pushing through the congested pack, he now often opts for patience, waiting for the field to thin before attempting to maneuver forward. The Next-Gen car’s design has made passing especially difficult in tight traffic, forcing Hamlin to consider whether to actively race or hold position until space opens.
“I just, do I just stop racing and just wait on the field to thin? Because that’s what, to me, watching the race from about 50 car lengths behind for most of the time, it seemed like the race, and we’ve talked about it on this podcast before, really took a turn when the field thinned out. There was more room to move.” —Denny Hamlin, driver
How Ryan Blaney Clinched Victory Despite Next-Gen Car Limitations
During the same podcast conversation, Hamlin examined the recent victory of Ryan Blaney at Daytona, who managed to win the race starting from 13th position despite the challenges posed by the Next-Gen vehicle. Hamlin noted the difficulty Cup Series cars have in passing compared to Xfinity Series cars, due to the close racing leaving little space for overtaking maneuvers.
Hamlin credited Blaney’s success to his ability to capitalize on late-race chaos and the small gaps that appeared in the often congested pack. By making a patient, strategic move as the racing narrowed to three-wide formations, Blaney found the opportunity to overtake and secure the win, altering the landscape of the playoffs significantly.
“Where a lot of times in NextGen we just get logjammed in this two- or three-wide racing. It looks good but you can’t really go anywhere. But at the end of the race there was enough chaos up front or enough air moving around where it created some good passing and it looked like a very entertaining race from my seat.” —Denny Hamlin, driver
Upcoming Plate Race at Talladega Offers New Opportunity for Hamlin
Looking ahead, the season features one remaining plate race at Talladega, where both Hamlin and Blaney are expected to compete again. This event could present another chance for Hamlin to overcome his Daytona difficulties and prove his resilience on Superspeedways with the Next-Gen car. Observers will be watching closely to see if any strategic adjustments or improved performances emerge from the veteran driver as the season progresses.
