NASCAR’s legendary Superspeedway dominator, Denny Hamlin, seems to have come to a stark realization: the magic formula for winning at tracks like Talladega has changed, and the tricks he learned from icons like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart no longer hold the same power.
As the NASCAR Cup Series hits Talladega for the second playoff race in the Round of 12, Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner and a perennial superspeedway favorite, admitted that his edge on these tracks has dulled. Once known as one of the most formidable drivers at Daytona and Talladega, Hamlin has struggled to recapture that dominance in the Next-Gen era. Over the past five Talladega races, Hamlin has finished outside the top 15 three times, and a victory has remained elusive.
On his recent podcast episode, Hamlin candidly reflected on how the racing dynamics at superspeedways have shifted. He explained that the techniques he once mastered—thanks to advice from legends like Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart—are now obsolete.
“All those things that I learned from Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart back in the day—gone, all those techniques,” Hamlin said. “I learned how to pass and create runs and all that stuff. You’ve got to just stay in line. It’s just all about numbers. You’ve got to stay in whatever line’s got the most cars, and that line will go forward.”
Hamlin’s frustration underscores how much superspeedway racing has evolved, particularly in the Next-Gen era. The once-dependable strategies for generating momentum, making daring passes, and controlling the race have given way to a simpler numbers game, where being in the line with the most cars seems to dictate success. The once-artful high-speed chess match of superspeedway racing has become more about holding position and less about individual skill.
As he looks ahead to this weekend’s Talladega race, Hamlin’s expectations reflect a more cautious outlook. He anticipates a track position-focused contest, where fuel-saving strategies and staying in the right lane will be key. The No. 11 driver doesn’t foresee many surprises.
“This week, what are we going to see there? Who knows? I think you’re going to see everyone battling to try to get stage points and win the race. It’s one where, certainly, you’re not going to have varying strategies. You’re going to have others that stay out and want to keep track position, but it’s going to be a track position race in my opinion,” Hamlin predicted.
Hamlin’s comments suggest a potentially uneventful race unless some late-race wrecks or surprises shake up the grid. Fans hoping for the traditional superspeedway thrills—packed with daring high-speed passes and strategic battles—may be left disappointed if the race turns into a cautious, numbers-driven affair. Still, with Talladega’s notorious unpredictability, anything can happen in the final laps, and Hamlin, despite his cautious outlook, could still have a trick or two left in his bag.
