During the raucous Grant Park 165 road race in Chicago, Denny Hamlin noted that ethical considerations often fade into the background as pressure mounts. He noted that the frantic behavior on the final laps, when NASCAR decided to stop the race, reflected the desperation of the drivers to make up and get a better result.
The Chicago race, which resumed after a red flag interruption due to multiple accidents, was ultimately decided by the clock rather than the scheduled distance. This change set the stage for chaotic confrontations. Tensions rose on the final laps as Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez, to name a few, aggressively battled for position. Denny Hamlin commented on these incidents on the podcast “Actions Detrimental”: “I mean, we’ve seen a little bit of that. I mean, every corner, somebody pushed somebody else off the corner, threw me off the tire wall, and I gained a spot. Because they knew the end was near. And then you ask yourself, is it really? Is it really worth doing this?
Denny Hamlin also expressed frustration with NASCAR’s lack of flexibility to start races earlier. He expressed hope for greater adaptability with the entry of new partners such as Amazon and Turner, particularly highlighting Amazon’s potential flexibility due to its independence from live television programming. He said:
“I’m hoping that our new partners, Amazon and Turner, will be a little more flexible. Amazon certainly will, because it doesn’t matter if they’re in the window on live TV or not.” [8:24 p.m.]
Denny Hamlin said he’s had those discussions with Amazon. The No. 11 driver said he won’t be as restricted as other drivers before and after the race. They want the viewers to pay attention. They want more flexibility in their schedule than others who are in the aftermath of the Chicago Fire.
Denny Hamlin gave his thoughts on retirement and racing mindset
Denny Hamlin claims he’s been a bit egocentric on the track lately, and admitted on a podcast that he’s been mentally exhausted. He explained that his impatience grew because he set personal goals knowing that time wasn’t on his side. He shared:
“It (the mind) is on 24/7, so you can’t turn it off. You’re constantly thinking about what you have to do to win. […] And it eats at you, right? Sometimes people don’t understand why I’m so tired, but it’s because I’m mentally tired… [49:28]. Denny Hamlin has been a consistent performer for many years, but he has yet to win a championship. He is determined to win at least one title before hanging up his helmet.
