Denny Hamlin, a seasoned driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and a prominent voice in NASCAR, recently opened up about the reasons North Wilkesboro Speedway is not included in the regular-season points races. Speaking on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast alongside co-host Jared Allen, Hamlin offered a candid take on the challenges involving the track’s return to the NASCAR calendar and why it remains only an All-Star event venue.
The conversation started when Jared Allen asked Hamlin if the North Wilkesboro track would provide more engaging racing as a regular-season points race, especially with 40 cars competing and the potential for quicker lapping of slower traffic. Hamlin’s initial answer was non-committal, simply saying “maybe,” before shifting focus to a more influential factor: the timing of the races held at the venue.
The Impact of Race Timing and Track Conditions on Competition
Hamlin highlighted that racing at night at North Wilkesboro negatively impacts the competition. He explained that night races reduce tire wear, which flattens the playing field and diminishes the differences between drivers and teams. He said,
“I think that going at night hurts the racing, there’s no question about that. It just levels the field off too much. There’s less tire fall off. It needs to be like hot, or we need to go back to the softer left side tire than what we had here last year.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
This view underlines how the track conditions at night do not bring out the full strategic or skillful aspects of racing that tire degradation often influences during daytime events.
All-Star Event Status Overshadows Potential for Points Race Hype
During the podcast, producer Travis questioned how transforming North Wilkesboro from an All-Star race setting into a regular points race would alter its atmosphere or popularity. Hamlin was skeptical, expressing that the hype surrounding an All-Star weekend generally exceeds that of a typical points race, even at historic tracks like North Wilkesboro.
He bluntly stated that changing the race classification would not automatically elevate its significance for fans or drivers:
“I just think from a hype standpoint, you’re going to get more hype out of something called an All-Star weekend than you are a regular season race at North Wilkesboro.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Hamlin continued, explaining that the difference between a “North Wilkesboro All-Star race” and a “North Wilkesboro 400” in terms of excitement and fan engagement is largely psychological rather than tangible. According to him, the event’s branding does not necessarily influence the intensity or quality of the racing itself.
“Nothing. It’s in your head. There’s nothing that makes it more exciting. I think it’s a thought that getting embedded in people’s brains, you’re not going to see anything different,”
Hamlin said.
Concerns About Race Format and the Dilution of Competition
Hamlin expressed frustration with the current structure of NASCAR’s All-Star competition, suggesting that the number of cars and races has made it harder to maintain the event’s exclusivity and excitement. He argued that the sport has broadly diluted the prestige of its events by making them accessible to nearly all drivers, diminishing any true elite status.
He commented on this trend by saying,
“We’ve watered down the importance of everything. Nothing is elite anymore. It’s come one, come all. ‘Here’s your participation medals,'”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
His remarks indicate concern that the All-Star format no longer carries the elite competitive edge it once had, which may affect fan enthusiasm and the value of races at historic venues like North Wilkesboro.
Implications for NASCAR and North Wilkesboro’s Future
Hamlin’s insights suggest that the decision to keep North Wilkesboro as an All-Star race venue rather than reinstating it as a regular-season points race is tied to factors beyond just the historic significance of the track. Race timing, tire management, and maintaining event prestige all play crucial roles in NASCAR’s scheduling choices.
As NASCAR continues to balance tradition with modern competitive formats, Hamlin’s perspectives reflect the challenges in preserving excitement and exclusivity in the sport’s marquee events. The dialogue around North Wilkesboro’s future on the points race schedule remains open, but Hamlin’s candid remarks provide clarity on the complexities behind the current status quo.
