Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin prepared for the NASCAR Cup Series event at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Saturday, aiming to secure a vital victory that could extend his lead in the Playoffs. The Denny Hamlin NASCAR Gateway race is seen as a pivotal moment for the driver to improve his standing and gain momentum before the challenging stretch of races ahead.
Hamlin Comments on Tyler Reddick and Team Confidence
Regarding teammate Tyler Reddick’s position, Hamlin emphasized stability within the team’s lineup and their confidence moving forward into the final months of the season.
“We have him under contract. I think he probably feels as confident as we are for December. I’m not sure,”
Hamlin stated, signaling the team’s intent to focus on current commitments during the high-pressure Playoffs.
New Tire Compound and Its Impact on Racing Dynamics
Concerns about tire wear were raised ahead of the race, especially with the introduction of a new right-side tire that Goodyear and NASCAR have designed to promote more aggressive racing. Hamlin expressed support for the change, stating,
“I think the tire change is going to mean more than the conditions will. Apparently, this right-side tire is going to be more aggressive as far as a tire wear stand point – that is the goal of it, which I’m all for it. Any time, Goodyear and NASCAR can get together and be okay with some chaos style racing, when it comes to the tires, I’m all for it. Certainly, the teams and the drivers will separate themselves when that happens.”
Hamlin’s Assessment of His Chances at Gateway
Hamlin acknowledged the team’s consistent top-five performances but admitted they need to improve to clinch a win.
“Not really sure. We’ve just kind of been a top-five car. We have a couple of second-place finishes. I don’t know. We just have to get a little bit better. We are going into this weekend with a good mindset and understanding with how I need to be to feel better, so we will go to work on it and see whether we step up a little more than the competition. Ultimately, just haven’t been fast enough to win the last couple of races here, so hopefully we can change that,”
he said, highlighting the team’s determination to overcome recent challenges.
Evaluating the Effect of Tire Compounds on Race Strategy
Hamlin also shared his reservations about how the reduced stagger tire compound might influence race conditions at Gateway. He noted the difficulties faced during the Iowa race with the same compound, pointing out,
“I’m not really sure. The reduced stagger is one thing. The only thing about the Iowa tire is we saw the racing was very, very challenging there. You can attribute it to track or tire, but we are bringing one of those elements here to this track, so we will see if it has any fall off at all. We will see during practice.”
Focus on the Playoffs and Maintaining Consistency
Asked about how his attention shifts with his position in the Playoffs, Hamlin admitted his focus remains strictly on the upcoming races rather than the entire Playoff structure.
“I mean, if you had to put me on the spot right now, I don’t think I could tell you what races are in the next round. I just know this one and the next one, but beyond that, I don’t look too far forward. I just try to focus so much on the week ahead, but I’m sure there will be some challenging tracks for us. The first round – if I remember – is pretty straightforward, and it is where we can gain some spots and get some wins, then if the second round has a little more challenge to it, then we need to stack those Playoff points in this round. I haven’t focused on that round quite yet.”
Target Points Threshold for a Comfortable Position
Hamlin outlined a points target he hopes to surpass after Gateway to feel secure ahead of the Bristol race.
“Anything 50 or more is a pretty comfortable spot, even if you typically DNF. You have to add in if the people below the cut, are they really legitimate contenders to win a race or not, at Bristol? So, 50 or more would be fine. Even if it is less than that, it’s fine. We were far less than that last year at Bristol, and unfortunately, had to run that race a little bit more conservatively because we weren’t in as comfortable of a spot as I was hoping for, so I would like to go to Bristol not having to worry about anything – simply, like Jeff (Gluck) talked about with the tire and stuff, you never know what can happen, and certainly, if you want to win that race, you are going to have to be aggressive as a driver, and certainly, you don’t want to have to think about the repercussions of missing the next round at Bristol because it could hamper your ability to win that race.”
The Mental Challenge of Racing on the Cutline
Hamlin addressed the mindset required when a driver is positioned on the Playoff cutline.
“Everyone’s situation is different. Everyone’s speed is different. Everyone’s ability to win is different, and so I would say that everyone’s mindset is probably a little different. I think there is probably will be a couple of guys below the cut probably praying something bad happens to the guys in front of them because that is really their only shot. They are not going to gain that many points to the cutline. You maybe will have one that will have to win, so on and so forth. Everyone’s situation will be a little different. I can only speak for our team, and that we want to go to Bristol with the opportunity to win. I want to be 100 percent – that is the only mindset, win and who cares if you finish last, and that is probably a unique place that only two or three guys will have at that track.”
Passing Challenges and Track Conditions at Gateway
Explaining the difficulties of racing at Gateway, Hamlin highlighted the challenge of overtaking due to the track’s design.
“The passing is the most difficult part at this track. The straightaways are long, the corners are pretty narrow, so the passing aspect, the clean air – which is like any other bigger race track with this car in general,”
he commented, stressing how track layout affects race strategy.
Outlook on Bubba Wallace’s Chances to Advance
When asked about Bubba Wallace’s opportunity to move forward in the Playoffs, Hamlin expressed optimism.
“I think they probably feel pretty good. Certainly, they’ve got some good tracks these next couple of weeks and certainly have the speed to do it. As long as they focus on the execution, they will be fine,”
he said, underscoring the importance of consistent performance under pressure.
Implications for the NASCAR Playoffs and What to Watch
Denny Hamlin’s approach to the NASCAR Gateway race reflects his measured yet determined mindset as he navigates the Playoffs. With the team adjusting to new tire compounds and carefully managing race strategies, the outcome at Gateway could significantly influence the drivers’ Playoff standings heading into Bristol and beyond. Hamlin’s goal of securing a comfortable points buffer highlights how critical each race has become in this intense phase of the NASCAR Cup Series, shaping the path toward the championship.
