Daytona 500 : Denny Hamlin Confesses Thin Chances with Blunt 3-Word Blame on NASCAR

Denny Hamlin’s journey with the Daytona 500 started long before he ever stepped into a NASCAR Cup Series car. As a seven-year-old, he wrote down a simple wish: “My wish is to win the Daytona 500.” He achieved his dream in 2016, then again in 2019, and once more in 2020. These victories cemented his status as one of NASCAR’s modern-day greats. But as Hamlin prepares for the 2025 Daytona 500, he faces a new challenge.

The iconic oval that once felt like his playground now seems to pose an uphill battle. While Joe Gibbs Racing driver aims for his fourth Daytona 500, he isn’t as confident as he used to be. Ahead of Sunday’s iconic battle, Hamlin gave a candid assessment of his chances. Despite a great qualifying and practice session, Hamlin feels that his chances are thinner than ever. However, the JGR driver also feels that NASCAR has played an important role in it.

Denny Hamlin admits his struggles in Next-Gen car!

Denny Hamlin has always thrived on super speedways by racing aggressively. He built his success by making bold moves, never lifting, and keeping the pack unsettled. But since NASCAR introduced the Next-Gen car in 2022, that approach has stopped working. Before the Daytona 500, Hamlin joined the media and explained why he’s struggling.

“They talk about my three wins, but I’ve run here 40 times. I’m like three for 40 and yet they’re like, man, you’re so good at this track, I’m like I’ve lost like 37 times… The stats don’t lie. It’s that in the next-gen era, it’s been horrendous. The finishes have been bad, and I think it’s because of… next gen with fuel saving and all that stuff like that’s not my forte and I’ve got to learn to be better at it,” Hamlin told media.

Before the next-gen car, he was pretty dominant on tracks like Daytona. Between 2016 and 2021, Hamlin won three Daytona 500 races and finished in the top five in two other races. He was a master of controlling the draft, timing his moves, and executing perfect last-lap passes.

In the last three years, his best performance at Daytona was a 17th-place finish in 2023. Apart from Daytona, Hamlin also struggled at Talladega. The No.11 Toyota driver has just a single top-5 finish at the iconic venue. In contrast, Hamlin has remained strong on intermediate tracks. Since 2022, he has only finished outside the top 10 in nine intermediate races. That difference highlights how much the Next-Gen car has hurt his Super Speedways’ success.

Notably, NASCAR’s next-gen car has faced a lot of backlash from fans and experts for its impact on superspeedways. Many believe that fuel saving and increased drag have reduced the speed of the car. Drivers and teams now mostly rely on strategies rather than skills to succeed at tracks like Daytona and Talladega. This has also seen an increase in manufacturer alliances on these tracks.

Despite these struggles, Denny Hamlin is aiming for a fourth victory at Daytona International Speedway. He started his 2025 Daytona 500 weekend on a firm note. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver led the opening practice session with a top speed of 187.480 mph. While he failed to get a direct qualification, he secured the eighth spot to start the race. Speaking about the race, Hamlin said, “I feel very confident on. If I’m in a green-white-checkered situation, I’m upfront. I know the tactics it takes to win, but I’ve got to work on all the other stuff to get myself back in that position again.”

While it’s a solid place to begin the race, Hamlin understands that superspeedway racing is unpredictable. He’ll need to adapt his strategy if he wants to have a real shot at victory. Meanwhile, this will also be a big test for his new crew chief, Chris Gayle. The duo will be aiming to make a strong start considering Hamlin’s successful run with the previous crew chief. However, Hamlin will also need to fight with another distraction, i.e. his ongoing legal battle with NASCAR.

Hamlin reflects on the impact of the legal battle

While Denny Hamlin aims to win his maiden NASCAR Cup series title, he is also fighting a battle off the track. His ongoing lawsuit against NASCAR regarding the charter system has been a major talking point leading up to the Daytona 500. Though he has insisted that his focus remains on racing, the 23XI co-owner acknowledged that the legal proceedings at times have been a distraction.

“There was a difficult time, kind of during the playoffs, a little bit last year where things were starting to get fouled and whatnot, and playoffs are going on. Then, this offseason was all about ownership and the off-track stuff. But you know we’ve been very fortunate the way the timing has gone and when the court proceedings have been scheduled that now it’s, I’m straight driver,” Hamlin told media.

Notably, Hamlin, along with 23XI partner Michael Jordan, tried to work with NASCAR. Yet, negotiations failed and 23XI Racing along with Front Row Motorsports filed a lawsuit against the organizing body. They charged NASCAR for being unfair and monopolistic. Earlier this year, a district court allowed both teams to continue their NASCAR operations as a legal battle continues in the backdrop.

Meanwhile, NASCAR is fighting back. NASCAR’s attorneys filed a legal brief in the Court of Appeals. They’re seeking to overturn a preliminary ruling that sided with 23XI and FRM. The appeal claims the ruling “flouts federal antitrust law” and could have a major impact on the 2025 season. Amid the ongoing battle, Hamlin will be keen to focus on winning his first Cup series title. However, he will need to start from Great American Race which is just a few hours away.