Denny Hamlin has been vocal about his concerns with modern NASCAR racing, particularly superspeedway events. He believes the sport has lost its core competitive edge, with skillful drafting and passing being replaced by aggressive bumping and wrecks. Hamlin summed it up bluntly, saying, “We just knock each other out of the way and say, ‘That’s just short track racing.’”
Since the introduction of the Next-Gen car in 2022, NASCAR has faced criticism for making racing more about luck than skill. Hamlin, a longtime driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing, has expressed frustration over the increasing number of regulations and the impact they have on the sport. His dissatisfaction extends beyond driving—his investment in 23XI Racing feels uncertain as NASCAR’s direction continues to evolve.
23XI Racing, co-owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan, filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR in 2024, alongside Front Row Motorsports, accusing the organization of monopolistic practices. However, Hamlin’s main issue remains the Next-Gen car. He laments that superspeedway races, once won by the best drivers navigating traffic skillfully, now come down to luck. He pointed to the 2025 Daytona 500 as proof.
On the final lap, Hamlin was battling Austin Cindric for the lead when chaos erupted. William Byron, who started ninth on the last lap, moved up to sixth by Turn 3. Behind Hamlin and Cindric, Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe made aggressive moves, causing a multi-car crash. Byron, avoiding the wreck, cruised to his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory. Hamlin was frustrated, saying, “Every car is planted to the ground, which is why we are going down the straightaway just ram-rodding each other.”
Another issue Hamlin has with superspeedway racing is fuel-saving tactics. The Next-Gen cars force drivers to conserve fuel, often leading to unpredictable finishes where survival matters more than strategy. He admitted that fuel strategy isn’t his strength and that these types of races have been “horrendous” in the Next-Gen era.
Despite Byron’s back-to-back Daytona 500 wins, Hamlin believes the randomness of superspeedway racing diminishes the accomplishment. He sympathized with Byron, saying it’s unfair that his win will be remembered as “just another superspeedway victory.” Even Jimmie Johnson, who was running 10th before the crash, ended up third due to the wreck.
With superspeedway races now so unpredictable, should 23XI Racing adjust its strategy? Or is NASCAR’s current direction making skill less relevant? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
