Denny Hamlin Demands a Major Sonoma Change Detrimental to the Next Gen Cars After Uncharacteristic Disaster

NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin is not one to shy away from expressing his frustrations, especially when it comes to track conditions and safety measures. Following a disappointing Cup Series race at the Sonoma Raceway, wherein he crashed with just 15 laps remaining, everyone was expecting Hamlin to vent out his frustration on the Actions Detrimental podcast. And he did just that!

In the latest episode of the podcast, he voiced his concerns about the excessive grip on the track. He believes this factor is detrimental to the Next Gen cars’ performance and diminishes the competitive nature of racing. As the Joe Gibbs Racing driver demands change, his call for action has sparked a debate on the importance of maintaining track uniqueness while ensuring safety and excitement in the sport.

Denny Hamlin is frustrated with the lack of safety measures at the Sonoma Raceway

Hamlin’s frustration stems from the make-shift solutions in place at the Sonoma Raceway. He argued that the paint on the track caused issues, particularly in turn 4, where a DoorDash advertisement label provided instant traction. While the additional grip may sound beneficial, it actually levels the playing field and takes away passing opportunities. Hamlin believes that excessive grip is not suitable for the Next Gen cars, as it eliminates speed differentials and hampers the competitive nature of the racing.

During the podcast, Hamlin stated, “Well, they just need to make it more permanent there. I mean, we’re not even racing on the surface anywhere. I saw Brett Griffin and those guys talking about it on Twitter, but I agree with them, you know. The problem is we’re all searching for the paint on the race track, so someone keeps knocking the tires for the right, and now we’ve got our whole car on the paint, and that just … while paint is good for the grip of your car, it adds grip to all cars that do it, so, such is turn 4, for instance.”

Hamlin’s request for change comes from his desire to maintain the unique challenges and characteristics of each track. By reducing the excess grip and implementing more permanent solutions, he believes the racing at Sonoma Raceway can be improved, allowing for more exciting and dynamic competition.

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Denny Hamlin’s dichotomous weekend at the Sonoma Raceway

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After winning the pole, Hamlin’s race got off to a promising start as he won the first stage and showed a strong performance early on. However, a caution in the second stage disrupted his race strategy and caused him to lose ground. After trying very hard to gain positions, Hamlin managed to climb back into the top 10 just after Lap 90. It seemed like he was on the path to a strong finish and a chance to salvage the weekend.

But then, disaster struck in Lap 95. Turn 11 was his undoing as Hamlin clipped the inside wall, lost control of his car, and crashed into the outside wall on the front stretch. The impact was severe, resulting in a broken toe link and forcing him to retire from the race. It was a self-inflicted mistake that Hamlin could only blame himself for.

After the incident, Hamlin shared his perspective on the crash, saying, “I was really close behind the #24, and I couldn’t really see where I was going. I went to turn left to try to peek underneath him, and the wall was there.” It was a momentary lapse in judgment that had serious consequences.

When asked about the possibility of repairing the car, Hamlin expressed doubts, stating, “Everything was beat up pretty good. It was doubtful we were going to get it fixed, it was as bad as I messed it up.” The extent of the damage made it impossible to continue the race.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, Hamlin acknowledged the setback caused by the untimely caution, but overall expressed satisfaction with the speed they demonstrated. He said, “It was a good day, certainly that one caution right before the second stage hurt us as far as track position. Overall, I was pretty happy with our speed.”

As the NASCAR season continues, it remains to be seen whether Denny Hamlin’s demands for change at Sonoma Raceway will be heeded. The incident and subsequent crash serve as a reminder of the fine margins in motorsports and the importance of track conditions in ensuring fair and exciting competition.

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