Denny Hamlin had a tumultuous day at Talladega in the NASCAR Cup Series race. It was a day of mixed emotions for the veteran driver of Joe Gibbs Racing. On one hand, he was pleased to see his team, 23XI Racing, secure their first win of the 2024 season. The No:45 team took advantage of a last lap crash by the race leader to clinch the victory.
This race was also significant for the TRD team, as NBA legend Michael Jordan, who co-owns the team, was present in the pit box to celebrate the win. It was a special moment for Jordan, as he had never witnessed his team win live before. He celebrated with great passion and joy.
Denny Hamlin joined Jordan in victory lane and captured a video of the emotional moment they shared. Jordan embraced his co-owner, exclaiming, “Holly f**k yeah!” Hamlin also hugged his driver, Tyler Reddick, and had fun with the son of the No:45 Camary driver.
However, amidst the celebration, Hamlin was devastated by his own misfortune. He was unable to finish the race due to a crash involving all the Toyota cars, in which he was an innocent bystander. It wasn’t just Hamlin who was involved in the crash; Reddick’s car was also damaged, and the cost of repairs would have to come from Reddick’s winnings on Sunday.
Reflecting on the win, the co-owner of 23XI Racing expressed how meaningful it was for him. He compared seeing his team win to seeing his own children win, emphasizing the uniqueness of the moment. Hamlin also admitted to feeling confused after the race, given the chaos on the track.
With Reddick’s victory, some of the pressure on Denny Hamlin was relieved. Now, the team can focus on helping Bubba Wallace end his losing streak and secure a spot in the playoffs. With 16 more races remaining in the regular season, the team has the momentum and speed to achieve these goals.
