Denny Hamlin Teases Nearing Retirement as He Unmasks “Selfish” Daytona 500 Narrative

Denny Hamlin will turn 44 this year. However, over time, he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 driver continues to show the same zeal he did on his Cup Series debut in 2005. Since then, he has embarked on a seemingly ever-lasting championship chase. While a championship win hasn’t materialized, his career has been compensated with three Daytona 500 wins. But that hasn’t stopped him from going after a fourth win, either. Speaking to FOX Sports, Denny Hamlin has explained the reasoning behind his self-centered approach at Daytona.

Last week, Hamlin revealed his desire to be more selfish at the upcoming Daytona 500. The declaration has been a big topic of discussion in the NASCAR community. Owing to his notoriety, the fanbase has responded to his statements with mixed feelings. As the conversation with the FOX Sports crew continued, Denny Hamlin also divulged his thoughts on younger drivers adapting to the competition and improving their skill set.

Denny Hamlin wishes he had Kevin Harvick’s longevity

The JGR ace is a 51-time race winner in the Cup Series. His performances over the years have already carved out a Hall of Fame-worthy career. However, the NASCAR fandom hasn’t appreciated his service to the sport as much as it could have. Having endured the criticism and delivered wins every year, Hamlin felt that he might be entering the final dash of his career.

Revealing his thoughts on the changing scenario of his stay in the sport, Denny Hamlin said, “Whoever I think has got the most momentum, will get me clear as well. I’ve only got so many of these left that I’m able to compete in. I’m gonna have to do what I have to do to win another.“

Moving to the evergreen Kevin Harvick, who retired from racing last year and is the latest addition to the FOX Sports analyst crew, Hamlin added, “If I had the talent and youth this guy had, I’d have gone till 50.”

With the inclement weather forcing NASCAR to postpone the weekend’s main event to Monday evening, Denny Hamlin will have a tough task on his hands with wet conditions playing against him. Having been outclassed by teammate Christopher Bell in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel, he has understood that drivers have been growing under favorable conditions. However, he also believes that hasn’t been the case with 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace.

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Hamlin feels that Bubba Wallace is being held back

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In NASCAR, various factors can affect a driver’s performance. Apart from a pinch of fortune, drivers have to be at their physical and psychological best at all times. Often, a driver’s potential can be hidden beneath the gravity of circumstances. With 23XI Racing being a technical ally of Joe Gibbs Racing, it has used a long list of the latter’s equipment. Denny Hamlin thinks that it is also a constraint on Bubba Wallace’s performance on superspeedways.

Explaining his stance, the NASCAR veteran said, “I think that Bubba Wallace is one of those elite racers on the superspeedways that we’ve talking about.”

Bubba is the driver with the best statistics among current drivers at Daytona. While he has yet to land a win on the track, his average finishing position triumphs over every other driver on the grid. The Alabama native has also finished second in Daytona races twice, implying he has been close to the victory lane, but missed it by a whisker. Emphasizing embracing the learning curve in NASCAR, Denny Hamlin added,

“But again, through all these alliances and stuff, his skillset has been pulled back as well. We’re going to let the rings loose on the guys that we really feel like can go out and compete. I think everyone learns from that. Christopher Bell, he beat me right on the final lap of the 150s. They’re all learning.”

Bubba has finished outside the top 20 at Daytona only once in his career. This statistic speaks volumes about his prowess on superspeedways. With his team owner, Denny Hamlin, being one of the most successful drivers in Daytona 500 history, Bubba Wallace is surrounded by the right crowd to claim his much-awaited victory at Daytona.

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