Denny Hamlin’s Viewpoint on Major NASCAR Decisions Is Probably the Most Important. Here Is Why.

In every sport, there are voices that stand out and are heard over the others and carry more importance than those of the Average Joe. In NASCAR, Denny Hamlin is certainly one of them. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been competing in the top level of NASCAR for close to two decades now and has seen it all. So when he says something about a new inclusion by NASCAR, people listen.

Add to the fact that Hamlin is also the co-owner of 23Xi Racing, this gives a unique and broader perspective behind what he says and how he feels. This is something that was emphasized recently by another important figure in NASCAR, Bob Pockrass.

Denny Hamlin on what he feels will make the Chicago Race a success

During the Nashville race weekend, Hamlin was asked his take on what the Chicago race means for NASCAR and how its success will be measured. The three-time Daytona 500 winner said, “Ratings is one thing all right, you know, we’re spending, uh, NASCAR spending a significant amount to, uh, bringing new fans and you know, bring the race to the city, so you want to see the crowd to be good there, at the racetrack and the ratings to have a bump.” 

Asked whether he felt coming to Chicago was a good idea from a financial perspective, Hamlin answered, “I mean it’s good. Again, they know all the data on their demographic and who’s watching from what cities and whatnot. I know that that’s a big city and probably a lot of NASCAR fans there. So, again, it’s success is going to be whether they show up for the race and whether they watch it on TV.”

Why is Denny Hamlin’s view important from an organizational perspective?

The answer lies in the stakes. Denny Hamlin is in the unique position of being a driver and also an owner, which means he has to look at every NASCAR decision from both perspectives, operational and financial. This is something Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass also pointed out, saying, “As a team owner as well as a driver, Denny has a unique perspective on issues in the sport. So I often ask him and Brad (and Kyle when it comes to trucks) about issues where they can see things from more than one lens.”

 

Undeniably, this two-seat perspective does indeed lead to a broader understanding of any NASCAR decision having widespread implications. And this is why listening to the likes of Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch may often be the best thing to do during these times.