Denny Hamlin seems to be deeply disappointed with the current state of Cup races.
Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)
In the 2022 season, NASCAR introduced the Next-Gen cars with the main goals of promoting fairness and competitiveness in the sport. They managed to achieve this by bringing the field closer together than ever before. However, this achievement came at a significant cost, as the car’s aerodynamic issues made overtaking difficult and turned races into a fuel and track position conservation game.
Now, according to a three-time Daytona 500 winner and JGR veteran, in the current era, a driver’s skills are no longer a determining factor in races. He expressed his immense disappointment and acknowledged that the premier stock car division is becoming a series where skill is no longer a significant differentiating factor.
The co-owner of 23XI Racing mentioned that skills still play a role in the Xfinity Series, the sport’s second division. This can be attributed to the fact that they use old cup car chassis for races, which previously produced exciting races.
During discussions on the same topic, the driver of the No. 11 Toyota recalled advice he received from a three-time Cup champion about long races. He was advised to do everything possible to seize a significant opportunity during races.
Denny Hamlin is correct in stating that races nowadays no longer rely solely on the skills drivers have developed over time. However, it would be incorrect to assume that skills are completely irrelevant, as drivers now need a new set of skills to succeed, unlike in the past.
