Denny Hamlin is wary of NASCAR’s rule changes. After the controversy at Martinsville Speedway last year, the sanctioning body updated its race manipulation rules to ensure that the integrity of the sport is being maintained. Holding manufacturers accountable, the changes ensure that the rulebook is more streamlined and less open to interpretation so that all the relevant stakeholders are clear about the repercussions of their actions going into the new season.

With the Daytona 500 on the horizon, the veteran Joe Gibbs Racing driver has absolved himself from blame ahead of the season-opener. The 44-year-old clarified that getting help from BJ McLeod at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2024 was just a part of their ‘friendship bank’ while expressing his doubts about officiating ‘race manipulation’ at superspeedways.

Denny Hamlin wants every advantage he can get

In a sport defined by fine margins, the smallest advantage can make all the difference. Tracks such as Daytona International Speedway are known for their long straights where aerodynamics can play a significant role in gaining track positions. Very often, drivers resort to ‘drafting’ to reduce the air resistance, which ensures that the trailing car can travel with less drag and at higher speeds. This prompts racers to make partnerships and alliances on the track, as teamwork can make a big difference in the overall race’s outcome.

However, with NASCAR’s new rules, can working as a team be misinterpreted as race manipulation, especially on superspeedways? Speaking about the dilemma on the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin said, “I guess that’s the slippery slope. I would say no. I would say no simply because how in the world would you officiate it? We absolutely know manufacturers play a role in who you draft with, who you don’t. Teams play a role in who you draft with, who you don’t. I hate all of it, just for the record. I’d rather use anybody or everybody to my advantage.”

Denny Hamlin doesn’t just rely on help from his Joe Gibbs Racing or fellow Toyota teammates on the racetrack. Last year, the Florida native received assistance from B.J. McLeod at Atlanta Motor Speedway after wrecking off turn 4. Despite the Live Fast Motorsports racer driving the No. 78 Chevy, he chose to help Hamlin as a way of repayment, after getting plenty of help from the No. 11 car over the years. Recalling the race, the 44-year-old said, “He was paying me back for the many superspeedway races where I see buddy BJ up there, you know, in trouble of losing the draft.”

Hamlin once helped McLeod move up the track after the racer lost his lead in the green flag cycle. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver also pushed his friend to take the lead at Talladega Superspeedway as well and went on to say, “I deposited a few coins into the help-you-out friendship bank.” While instances such as these are not typically considered ‘race manipulation’, the veteran racer has acquitted himself of potential allegations by explaining that it was just teamwork between two drivers, not a pre-planned strategy devised by teams and manufacturers.

Denny Hamlin also brought up legends of the past, stating how they would have struggled in the modern era of superspeedway racing. “Dale Jr. and Dale Earnhardt would have never survived in today’s superspeedway racing… They wouldn’t have been as successful… to be told who you can and can’t draft with? It’s nonsense,” Hamlin added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart have famously been drafting partners at superspeedways, despite no formal alliance, and broadcasters used to point this out too. On numerous occasions, the two stalwarts finished amongst the top-3 at superspeedways and other drivers just could not stop their drafting strategy. Dale Jr. notably has 10 wins and 25 top-5 finishes at superspeedways while his dad, Dale Earnhardt Sr. has the most wins at Daytona International Speedway with 34.

If Hamlin wants to win at Daytona, he will have to play his cards wisely with how strict NASCAR’s rules have become. However, he will be more determined than ever, as Joe Gibbs Racing has been on a dry run lately.

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Hamlin shares his thoughts on winless streak

Denny Hamlin is in unfamiliar territory. The veteran driver is winless in 25 Cup Series races, having failed to enter Victory Lane since the 2024 Würth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. His ongoing drought has coincided with Joe Gibbs Racing’s drop in performance during the second half of the season, as the Toyota Camry XSE lacked the raw speed during the playoffs to mount a serious title challenge. Despite the setback, the Florida native is hoping that their struggles will have ended when the new season begins.

Sharing his thoughts on the winless streak, Hamlin told Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, “No, it’s been an eternity. It feels like years. I mean we started the year off so strong, so fast. The speed kind of tapered off as the year went on and we got a little bit more consistent with our finishes once the playoffs started but just didn’t have the raw speed that we had early in the season.” It’s not just Hamlin, but Joe Gibbs Racing as a team has not seen a win since Christopher Bell’s win at New Hampshire in June.

Seeing this, Joe Gibbs made some radical changes in the off-season, including moving Hamlin’s long-time crew chief Chris Gabehart to a competition director role. With a new crew chief in Chris Gayle atop the pit box this year, the No. 11 Toyota driver will be hoping to hit the ground running starting with ‘The Great American Race’.

Denny Hamlin has reasons to be optimistic if his performance at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray is anything to go by. The racer finished third at the pre-season exhibition event, leading 28 laps at ‘The Madhouse’ under challenging circumstances. Despite overtaking opportunities being hard to come by, the 44-year-old turned back the clock at the iconic venue and showed his dominance on short track once again. With momentum on his side, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver will hope to secure a triumph at the Daytona 500 for the fourth time in his career this year. Do you think Denny Hamlin will break Joe Gibbs Racing’s 18-race winless streak?