Denny Hamlin Uncharacteristically Defends Goodyear As He Calls Out SMI’s Questionable Decision

The 2023 Cup Series has unfailingly showcased Denny Hamlin‘s unwavering performance, transcending the occasional jeers from NASCAR enthusiasts. Even the most skeptical fans hardly anticipate his finish beyond fifth place. However, a stroke of unforeseen misfortune at the Texas grounds, in the form of an accidental wreck from a teammate at the pit road, nudged him to that very position.

Moreover, amidst the burgeoning concerns over frequent tire issues, Hamlin chose to direct the spotlight on the track’s condition. Contrary to the prevalent blame on suppliers, during his post-race interview, the JGR favorite firmly attributed these issues to the track’s configuration, altered by SMI in 2017.

Denny Hamlin stands by Goodyear, despite former teammate’s tire troubles

Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Denny Hamlin often finds himself amidst debates differing from popular NASCAR opinions. True to form, while employing strategic pit stops at Texas, often opting for two tires to enhance his finishing position, his former teammate, Kyle Busch, grappled with the frustrating setback of a flat tire, leading to a less favorable finish of P34.

However, in Hamlin’s view, the blame should not fall on Goodyear’s shoulders but rather on the track’s configuration. He noted the consistent performance of next-gen cars on other tracks, singling out Texas Motor Speedway as the outlier and suggesting the SMI’s reconfiguration as the potential culprit.

In his words, “When SMI reconfigured this thing, they did swung and missed on it for sure. I don’t know what you do with it. The next-gen car is really great on all other miles and a half. It’s just this one; it’s very tough. There’s just no tire fall-off. I did the tire test, but Goodyear is always going to choose the most durable tire they can to not blow out.”

He further added, “When you have that, you are not going to have any fall off and then you’re going to have guys with old tires go out there and win. So, it’s just passing is very, very difficult. It’s hard because all the cars are on the same speed, tires never fall off, and it’s what we got—track position.”

Despite the multitude of opinions and controversies, Hamlin’s defense of Goodyear and his insights into the track’s impact on race performance adds a nuanced perspective to the ongoing discussions in the NASCAR community.

Furthermore, Hamlin commented on his encounter with Ty Gibbs, hypothesizing the limited space on the pit road as a possible cause for contact.

Read More: Denny Hamlin Warns Entire Grid Against Incoming Chaos Ahead of Playoffs’ “Pivotal” Texas Outing

Joe Gibbs-favorite absolves Ty Gibbs after pit road collision

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Typically, a collision on the track would find Denny Hamlin pointing a finger at the other driver, especially when it results in a lost track position or increased pit road time. However, in a turn of events during the yellow flag on the 76th lap, even as Ty Gibbs collided with Hamlin’s right side, causing substantial damage, the latter’s post-race remarks echoed an understanding tone.

He attributed the incident to the limited room and even expressed concern for Gibbs, suggesting that the contact might have impacted #54 more than himself.

Hamlin said, “The only thing you know, it affected the #54 and took him out. But I was trying to get around the two changer, who was just finishing the right rear lug, and when I swung out there to avoid hitting him, obviously we were three wide with the pit road with 54. So, as you can see, there’s not much room here on this pit lane; it’s not very wide, and so if you have one car coming out and car 2 too wide, you’re going to have contact.”

Even with a respectable P5 finish, expectations are high for Hamlin, a season-consistent performer. Eyes are on him at Talladega, with hopes riding high for a top finish and a potential championship triumph in Phoenix.

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