“It’s Bad, It’s Really Bad”- 43-Yo Denny Hamlin Unmasks “X-Factor” Behind Notorious Cup Series MO

NASCAR is a sport where 43-year-old drivers are often seen as approaching the end of their on-track careers. But not Denny Hamlin. He is a veteran who has defied the norms and is continuing to ace the tracks with determination and grit. 

Denny Hamlin is also not someone to hold back and not express. So when Dale Earnhardt Jr invited him to his podcast, everyone expected a candid Hamlin, and it’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint. From talking about the “X” factor behind notorious Cup Series MO to his “prediction” about the Dover race, he went ahead to reveal it all.

Health at the center-stage for Denny Hamlin 

Hamlin’s stellar performances intrigued Dale Jr, like others, and so he had to ask him the burning question.“I know it seems like I say this every year, but like you’re running better right now than I think you ever have!” He added, “I always say that 43 is when drivers start to nose over when the performance starts to go down but damn dude I mean how long do you think you can do this?”

Hamlin shed light on how his body plays a crucial role and is the determining “X” factor. He exhaled and said, “It’s bad, it’s bad,” talking about all the health struggles he has gone through. From knee surgery to shoulder surgeries to chronic back problems.

Hamlin went ahead to mention that he is working hard on his body and its maintenance. He also emphasized “feeling good” in his current state, so perhaps his fans have nothing to worry about- yet! As per Hamlin, more than actually winning, he wants to be sure each season that he can win 36 out of 36 races. So, he also hinted at the possibility of having to resort to reassessing his career if the ‘X’ factor toppled even a bit.

Despite his battles with health, he has been an absolute trailblazer this year. But apart from being a legendary racer, defying the odds, and battling through his health concerns, he also seems to fit another role perfectly. The role of a stellar fortune-teller!

Denny Hamlin, on having the extra motivation to win races

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In the same podcast session, Dale Jr went ahead to ask Hamlin about his mysterious prediction before the Dover race. “When you said, hey we’re gonna win do on your podcast um did you believe that”? Hamlin responded with a resounding YES! He said he wouldn’t have mentioned it if he believed he couldn’t do it. He further mentioned how his recent experiences just added fuel to his hunger for winning. He said, “Because I was pissed off after two bad weeks on the racetrack where I crashed going for the win. Then I crashed saving fuel, I guess at uh Talladega, so I was going to have a little extra motivation in my veins.”

However, we already had an idea of his thirst to win as much as possible this year from his earlier interviews and sit-downs. In one he said, “I think it’s in my best interest in getting back to basics, and that’s doing what I feel is best to win the race for myself. While having teammates is great and are certainly assets to use in certain situations to win races, I think sometimes it’s those who are the most selfish, that make moves for themselves, are those who win the race.”

Well, all we can say is that this 43-year-old is making strides like no other and already has three wins in 2024. We can almost see him eyeing more such wins.