Despite William Byron winning a second consecutive Daytona 500, much of the footage has been stolen away from him, thanks to a chaotic end to the race. Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gave way to a crash that enveloped several more frontrunners, leaving most people disappointed with the 2025 season opener. Among them was Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin, who is growing tired of the series of wrecks in the sport.
A three-time Daytona 500 winner, Hamlin had a shot at winning the race, but a Cole Custer-led wreck came in the way. Seeing the increased number of wrecks in each race, the 44-year-old has now developed aggressive feelings against the current state while also dropping a bombshell update for his fans.
NASCAR’s Current State of Affairs Has Denny Hamlin Thinking Retirement
In the latest episode of his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin revealed that he thought the days of the true art of superspeedway racing were in the past. The new-age drivers have become more aggressive, leading to unnecessary incidents, making The Great American Race mostly about luck.
Speaking further, the No. 11 Toyota driver said, “I spend so much money at 23XI to ensure my team and my drivers have the best cars available to go out there and compete for a win. But it’s just such a f****** crapshoot now.”
Clearly unhappy with the way drivers have evolved in the sport, Hamlin also recalled the once glorious days of oval racing. He claimed the Daytona 500 used to be a battle between the best drivers, best teams, and the best cars brought to the track. But that art is lost now.
Drivers just “knock each other out and say, ‘That’s just short track racing.'” But Hamlin doesn’t feel they have to behave that way. Given he won’t be able to control how things evolve further, the 44-year-old had concerning words for his fans.
“I’ll be gone shortly, and this can continue down the road,” added Hamlin, hinting that he may be about to hang up the racing gloves. Revealing that the cars have become too easy to drive, making for harder overtakes, Hamlin highlighted how clean racing is becoming harder and harder.
While the latest regulations make for a “great optic on TV,” there is very little racing left. Now, it has mostly become about saving fuel and being lucky enough to see the chequered flag.
