Denny Hamlin’s Own Driver Could Spoil His Fairytale Quest for a 4th Daytona 500

If there’s something Denny Hamlin is looking to add to his resume besides a Cup championship, it’s definitely another Daytona 500 win. And after an intense victory at the Coliseum, the 44-year-old will be carrying forward the momentum to win a fourth Great American Race. However, Hamlin-owned team 23XI Racing‘s ace, Tyler Reddick, could deny him that privilege.

Tyler Reddick has improved incredibly as a driver since his Cup Series debut with Richard Childress Racing. Brushing aside the allegations of showing a winning pace strictly at road courses, the No.45 driver has grown into a dark horse for the championship. However, winning the Daytona 500 is about surviving the wreck-infested straights at the World Center of Racing. While Denny Hamlin is striving to be the last man standing yet again, Reddick must produce something special to improve his mediocre record at Daytona.

Denny Hamlin holds the empirical advantage

Tyler Reddick has started only nine races at the Daytona International Speedway. Reddick’s experience at the venue is relatively recent compared to the 23XI boss. Hamlin has made 36 appearances at the DIS, making him the more experienced driver. In the 9 Cup Series races at Daytona, Reddick has an average finish of 24.1. He has finished in the top-5 twice and came closest to a win with a P2 finish in August 2022.

Even in the 2023 Daytona 500, courtesy of an accident in the 117th lap, Reddick had a dismal P39 finish. In the same race, Denny Hamlin also failed to make much of an impact as he qualified 18th and moved up by a spot to finish 17th.

Throughout his Cup Series career, Hamlin has produced three wins at the Daytona 500 and backed it up with eleven top-5s and 12 top-ten finishes. He has also led 666 laps at the location compared to Reddick’s 14. For more context, a Daytona 500 race lasts for 200 laps. So effectively, Hamlin has led the grid for more than three complete races’ worth of laps.

One aspect where Tyler Reddick has the advantage is in recent results at Daytona. Since 2021, Denny Hamlin has had one top-5 finish compared to Reddick’s two top-5s. Much of it could be attributed to Denny’s misfortune, as he has led 136 laps, which is the most for any NASCAR driver at the venue in the same period.

All factors considered, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has the edge over Reddick. However, Reddick’s partner, Bubba Wallace, could spring a surprise on Sunday considering his recent track record at Daytona.

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Bubba Wallace is one of the strongest drivers at Daytona

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The #23 Toyota driver has only finished once outside the top 20 at Daytona. In 13 starts at the Daytona International Speedway, Bubba Wallace has finished second two times. In 2021, Bubba lost by a fraction of a second in what could have been the biggest win of his career. Since 2021, the 30-year-old has started in six races at the venue, finished in the top-5 twice, and finished within the top 20 in all the races.

His average finish of 10.7 is the best among current Cup Series drivers, with only Travis Pastrana’s one-off appearance leading him. While Bubba has only won two Cup Series races since his debut in the top flight, statistically, he is the best-performing driver at the DIS. Wallace beating 23XI Racing boss Denny Hamlin en route to a maiden Daytona 500 win could also be a great storyline.

Having won the event thrice already, could we possibly see a benevolent side of Hamlin in case Reddick or Wallace lead the race? Well, that remains to be seen on Sunday.

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