Denny Hamlin spoke with Frontstretch about his form, tire wear, and the lawsuit involving Joe Gibbs Racing. The veteran driver and 23XI Racing co-owner kept his answers direct. His team has opened the season with two wins by Tyler Reddick. That start puts 23XI in an early points position.
Denny Hamlin first looked at his own car and performance in practice. “The car is a little better than the driver right now. We’re just working on it, slowly but surely.”
He pointed out that the car carried a stronger pace over extended runs than it had at this track before. Now the challenge is to turn that practice speed into race-day results and sustain it when it counts.
Denny Hamlin Evaluates His Car and Weekly Focus
Denny Hamlin said he does not circle certain tracks. He sees every race as equal in terms of points. Denny said the team prepares the same way each week.
“They all count. This one counts just as much as Phoenix and Vegas. You just try to focus your efforts on the places where you think you can win. We try to be at our best every time we show up.”
Phoenix is next on the schedule. The same tire compound will be used there. Hamlin believes added horsepower could change how the race plays out. “I’m not sure. I think the added horsepower might have some effect on it.” He noted that teams continue to adjust setups as data grows.
Looking back at last fall in Phoenix, Hamlin admitted it was not smooth. He expects improvement this time. “It was certainly a tough weekend for us. For us, it’s about going back and putting together another strong performance. We should go there with high expectations.”
Tire Wear Becomes a Bigger Factor
Denny Hamlin also discussed tire saving, especially on road courses. He said drivers now rely on simulator work and data review.
He explained how softer tires have changed strategy. “We didn’t used to worry much about tire wear on road courses. With NASCAR and Goodyear pushing softer tires, we’re seeing multi-second falloff.” He said tire management now plays a larger role than before.
When asked to compare this season to last year, he did not see a major difference. “I didn’t really notice it being worse, honestly,” he said. He added that cars will still fall off after about ten laps.
Strong Start and Legal Questions
23XI Racing has won the first two races of the season. Hamlin said a third win would bring a clear benefit. “It would mean a big points lead, for sure.”
He said the early success is earned. “Winning the first two races is a blessing, but it’s not a fluke,” he said. He noted Reddick’s record at these tracks. “When we come here, he expects to be a top-three or top-four guy.”
Hamlin also addressed the lawsuit filed by Joe Gibbs Racing against Chris Gabehart. The team claims Gabehart took proprietary information. Gabehart has denied the allegations. Hamlin repeated his stance on protecting data. “It’s important for teams to protect their information because there’s no going back. If proprietary information gets out, that’s it.”
Denny Hamlin Addresses 23XI Racing Start, Tire Wear, Lawsuit