Denny Hamlin Takes a Savage Swipe at Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Prodigy, Crowned “Road Course Jesus” by Bubba Wallace

Denny Hamlin occupies a unique position in the grid. Apart from being a fierce competitor, he also co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. This implies that each weekend, he has to compete with his own drivers, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. This conflict of interest sometimes gives birth to tricky and dramatic situations—and fans of the sport love it.

Bubba Wallace famously getting spun out because of Hamlin’s aggression at Daytona earlier this year comes to mind. However, this time around, it was Tyler Reddick who locked horns with the veteran. Hamlin claimed the pole position for the Cup Series race at the Sonoma Raceway. His performance not only showcased his prowess on the road course but also sent a clear message to his competitors, including the road-course prodigy, Tyler Reddick.

Denny Hamlin employs wit and takes a dig at Tyler Reddick

Sonoma Raceway, known for its winding and hilly track in the wine country, has proven to be a challenge for Hamlin in the past. In his first 16 appearances at the road course, he never won the pole. Despite finishing second to Tony Stewart in 2016, victory on this particular course has eluded him. However, with his impressive qualifying performance, Hamlin has set himself up for a strong contention in the upcoming race.

After the qualifying, Hamlin posted a series of photos of himself and Reddick at the track. The post was captioned, “Sometimes the student beats the teacher @tyler_reddick. Pole in Sonoma.” The post referred to Reddick’s impressive qualifying lap that earned him a front-row start alongside Hamlin at the Sonoma Raceway. Hamlin’s choice of words was not lost on fans and fellow drivers, as it seemed to suggest a healthy rivalry brewing between the two drivers.

Reddick’s success on road courses has been undeniable. The Northern California-born racer has won three of the past five road course races on the Cup schedule, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on these challenging tracks. His success on road courses has even earned him the moniker of “Road Course Jesus,” as proclaimed by teammate Bubba Wallace. In contrast, Hamlin, despite his illustrious career, has yet to secure a victory in Sonoma.

The qualifying session at Sonoma further highlighted the prowess of both drivers on road courses. Hamlin claimed the pole position, earning the 38th pole of his career, while Reddick secured a front-row start by posting the second-fastest lap time. Their performances set the stage for an exciting showdown on race day.

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Tyler Reddick’s road course dominance threatens Chase Elliott’s title

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With his recent success at the Circuit of The Americas earlier this year, Reddick’s reputation as a formidable competitor on road courses has only grown. The driver showcased his skills in an intense battle with Kyle Busch and underlined his status as the next “King of Road Courses” by securing the win at COTA. This has also put him in the spotlight as a potential successor to Chase Elliott, who has long held the unofficial title of the “King of Road Courses” in NASCAR.

Bubba Wallace, acknowledging Reddick’s talent, bestowed him with the honorary title ahead of the Sonoma race.

As the NASCAR Cup Series embarks on a series of road and street course contests, Reddick’s success poses a significant threat to Chase Elliott’s title. While Elliott has accumulated an impressive 18 Cup wins, seven of which were on road courses, he has yet to reinforce his dominance on these tracks since last year. Reddick’s exceptional performances in recent races indicate that he may be on the verge of surpassing Elliott and claiming the title for himself.

As the rivalry between Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick intensifies and Reddick’s dominance on road courses threatens Chase Elliott’s title, NASCAR fans eagerly anticipate the exciting battles that lie ahead. The Next Gen cars have brought new challenges and opportunities for drivers, and Reddick has proven himself as a formidable contender on the demanding road course tracks. Only time will tell if he can solidify his claim to the throne and establish himself as the new “King of Road Courses” in NASCAR.

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