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Denny Hamlin's performance in the recent Atlanta race did not impress many, as the experienced driver employed a strategy quite different from what fans are accustomed to. At 43 years old, Hamlin anticipated numerous wrecks and chose to stay in the background, aiming to secure 20 points before the next race.
This approach surprised many, who believed it was a wrong strategy. Kyle Petty commented on Hamlin's tactic, admitting that he had never encountered such a strategy before. Kyle also expressed his surprise, uncertain about Hamlin's specific plans.
“Who goes into the playoffs saying, ‘I want to get 20 points in the first race?’ I’ve never heard anything like that in all the history of when we’ve had playoffs, ‘I just want to get 20 race points, I’m gonna ride back here.’ So, I’m more confused now than I was before I heard him speak,” Petty said on USA Network after the race."- he said, as quoted by On3.
As fans of the sport might have expected, Denny Hamlin addressed his strategy in a recent episode of the "Actions Detrimental" podcast. The 23XI Racing owner explained that NASCAR has significantly changed from the past, with current teams adopting different approaches and strategies than what some might be used to. Hamlin didn't explicitly confirm that his move was the right one, but he stressed that he saw potential benefits in his strategy and was willing to apply it.
The experienced driver reflected on past tracks and his previous failures, aiming to make the most of his recent performance. Hamlin admitted that he is uncertain about what to expect in the upcoming races and showed a hint of nervousness. Nevertheless, he remains determined to achieve significant results in the challenges ahead.
“I think teams are smarter now than they used to be and certainly, not saying that this was the right strategy, but it was the one that I wanted to employ on the day. If 20 points — I don’t know the last time I scored 20 points on a superspeedway race. It’s been so long. I know that still there’s some things that can happen, but I feel like the next two tracks, tires are gonna be a big thing. At Watkins Glen, we’ve got a new tire that’s got seconds of fall off apparently and if that’s the case, then you could be on the good end or the bad end of that."-Denny Hamlin said.
He also highlighted the uncertainty at Bristol, stating that past races there have varied. Despite the challenges, Hamlin expressed confidence in his team's ability to perform well if they can maintain their position and adapt to the conditions.
The 43-year-old driver didn't quite achieve his predictions, as the last race didn’t feature the expected crashes until the final lap, when he got caught up in the action. Denny Hamlin faces a challenging road ahead for the upcoming races, and he will need to give his best if he hopes to improve his performance and achieve his long-standing dream of winning a championship.
Despite the disappointing outcome of the last race, Hamlin isn’t dwelling on it and remains focused. His goal is to avoid finishing 20th or lower in any of the upcoming races. He has clear objectives and is still uncertain about what to expect in the coming weeks. However, he remains optimistic that his team can deliver strong performances and ease his path. As a driver, Hamlin knows he must give his all to succeed.
Denny Hamlin explained that he was expecting more crashes during the race to help him earn more points. He aimed to get 20 points, which usually means finishing in the mid-to-high teens. His main focus was just getting through this round of races, regardless of what other drivers were doing.
Denny Hamlin: Do I want to win a championship? A thousand percent
Hamlin is a driver with an incredible career success record, but he has always been just one step away from winning a championship. It often seems that when he desires something too much, things intentionally go in the wrong direction. Denny Hamlin is determined to win a championship, but he has acknowledged several times that this will not define his career, given the immense achievements he has already accomplished.
“Do I want to win a championship? A thousand percent,” Hamlin said. “But it’s not going to define my career. My career is defined by how many trophies do I have right here in this house? Right now, there’s 50 of them.”
It will be interesting to see if this experienced driver can truly achieve a major success in his career and put a definitive end to his quest.
English (US)