“We Don’t Have Racing” – Denny Hamlin Setting the Benchmark, as Owners Run NASCAR

With Chase Elliott out of the driver’s championship for the 2023 playoffs, most Hendrick Motorsports fans are heartbroken. However, Rick Hendrick has a new goal ahead of him. And that is the reason why, despite being out of the playoffs as a driver, Chase Elliott is still in the conversation of driving the #9 Chevy over the next ten weeks.

The goal is the owner’s championship. Rick Hendrick‘s #9 Camaro got into the playoffs based on owner points, and according to Chase Elliott, it is a big deal. Elliott’s fans would have preferred a Bubba Wallace-type situation for him. Wallace locked a playoff berth for himself but the #23 Toyota is not in contention for the owner’s championship. However, a Cup Series team president explained why it is important.

Very few people would do what Hamlin has done in NASCAR

When 30 or 40 cars run at blazing speed around the ovals of NASCAR, the chances of crashes are high. However, that is part and parcel of the sport. But when the drivers get injured during the offseason, the owners feel the heat of the sponsors. The car still needs to give the sponsors their money’s worth. For example, after Chase Elliott broke his leg while snowboarding earlier this year and stayed out of six races, Rick Hendrick did not lock the #9 car in his garage. He kept it running with Josh Berry and Jordan Taylor.

Hence, for the owners, the owner’s championship holds immense importance. Not everyone is like Brad Keselowski or Denny Hamlin when it comes to being a driver and yet going out and owning a team. Hamlin is a valuable asset for Joe Gibbs Racing for his numerous achievements with the team over the last 19 years. However, when it comes to 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin slides into the shoes of an owner and leaves no stone unturned.

Chris Rice, President of Kaulig Racing, admitted that it is very valuable for owners to be able to race for something. He explained, “If we don’t have the Matt Kauligs, the Rick Hendricks, Jack Roush when he started, Dale Junior, we don’t have racing. I don’t mean this in a bad way but how many drivers are going to get out and start to own a race team other than Denny Hamlin?

“They are not gonna do it, so we have these owners to be able to have drivers to be able to race for something in case a driver gets hurt.”

Watch this story: 5 NASCAR Underdogs Who Could Ace Over the Favorites to Make It to the Playoffs

Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, states the green side of the owner’s championship. He asked, “The owner’s points is what values your charter, right?”
“That’s correct,” asserted Rice.

Denny Hamlin is stuck between dual responsibilities

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On the one hand, Denny Hamlin is a driver of the #11 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs. On another, he is Michael Jordan’s partner in owning the 23XI Racing team. And with 23XI’s alliance contract with JGR and their manufacturing deal with Toyota coming to an end, Denny Hamlin finds himself in a weird position. Moreover, there have been rumors that Hamlin’s contract with Joe Gibbs Racing might not be renewed for the next season.

So, Hamlin the owner, or Hamlin the driver; which one comes first? In an interview, Hamlin said that it is important for him to be a good leader for 23XI Racing and it is equally important to be a good team player. He expressed that he takes both his duties with equal urgency.

However, talking before the recently concluded Daytona race with both Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs needing to get into the playoffs, he said, “… right now if I had to choose…side by side coming the line, 00.1 chance that, that ever happens, then obviously I ‘d probably lean to the 23 side.”

He even expressed that although not overly concerned, they were always open to buying charters during the offseason. “We are always looking at options. Is it at the forefront of our attention right now? No, it’s not. But we’re always open to different opportunities and different possibilities,’ said the 42-year-old speedster.

Read more: Without a Contract, Insider Reveals “The Only Thing” Denny Hamlin Hasn’t Done