Key Takeaways:
– Denny Hamlin ends his race early after an incident with Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace.
– Hamlin publicly criticized Speedway Motorsports’ track overhauls.
– The NASCAR veteran jumbles multiple roles, raising questions about his focus.
NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin seems to be embroiled in too many fights and taking on too many responsibilities, a scenario that was highlighted by his recent exit from a race at Talladega Superspeedway on April 21. An unfortunate tussle with Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace saw Hamlin crashing out, ending the race for all three drivers.
A Pattern of Crashes
This incident comes barely a week after Hamlin’s crash at the Echopark 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Despite these setbacks, Hamlin remains in a strong position in the early stages of the season, just 28 points behind NASCAR Cup leader Kyle Larson. However, there are increasing concerns about Hamlin’s multitasking with his racing career, co-ownership of a NASCAR Cup team, podcasting, and public criticisms of NASCAR.
Hamlin’s Controversial Stance
Hamlin’s discontent emerged publically on April 4, 2024, when he launched a scathing attack against Marcus Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports, accusing SMI of budget compromises in the maintenance of its tracks at Sonoma and North Wilkesboro. These comments sparked an ugly and highly publicized spat between the two on X (formerly Twitter).
Further, in preparation for the Talladega race, Hamlin publicly lamented changes to, and in some instances, removals of, the scoring pylons at NASCAR tracks. His critique invited mixed reactions from NASCAR fans and the media, leading many to question whether the athlete should be devoting his time and energy to such matters.
Fight over NASCAR Charter Agreement
Simultaneously, Hamlin has been embroiled in a battle over the NASCAR Charter Agreement. He has voiced the need for NASCAR to grant a larger share of media revenue to teams. This issue significantly affects Hamlin personally, considering he co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. Hamlin expressed his frustration with NASCAR over their reluctance to negotiate this matter as he feels mistreated by NASCAR’s ownership.
The Appeal of Stardom
Despite his numerous responsibilities, Hamlin has found a way to leverage them to his advantage. He made himself the star of the popular Netflix show, NASCAR: Full Speed, where he revealed portions of his personal and professional life. These initiatives, while bringing him attention and potentially assisting in his larger professional ambitions, also act as significant drains on his time and energy.
Balancing Act of Co-Ownership
Another challenge for Hamlin involves managing the stakes between his racing career for Joe Gibbs Racing and his co-ownership of the 23XI Racing team. This is not about divided loyalties, but it does raise questions regarding Hamlin’s level of focus. Nevertheless, he takes immense pride in 23XI’s wins, as seen during the Talladega race, where he cheered on the winner, Tyler Reddick, a racer for 23XI Racing.
Hamlin’s juggling act of his racing career, team co-ownership, media liaisons, and his recent spats with NASCAR and its associates have highlighted his multitasking. However, it also raises an important question – is he spreading himself too thin, thus jeopardizing his racing performance? Only time will tell if Hamlin can find a balance that does not affect his on-track performance.