Denny Hamlin, a well-known critic of fuel economy in races, has expressed his concerns about the racing product at Superspeedway since the introduction of the Next-Gen cars. The early stages of these races have become less intense, resulting in cleaner races. However, this change is mainly attributed to the controversial fuel-saving strategy employed by the drivers.
Despite his previous criticisms of fuel economy, Denny Hamlin, a veteran driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, has proposed a bold solution to eliminate the need for fuel-saving races. He suggests reducing the length of Superspeedway events from 500 miles to 400 miles. According to Hamlin, this adjustment would align pit stops with the end of stages, eliminating the need for fuel conservation. He believes that this realignment would promote three-wide racing throughout the event, making it more exciting. Additionally, Hamlin argues against adding another stage to the race as a solution.
Hamlin, a three-time winner of the Daytona 500, also discussed the potential drawbacks of making adjustments to the Next-Gen cars. While it may seem like a viable solution, he points out that implementing changes to reduce drag would require teams to use more restricted engines. This, in turn, would lead engine builders to create new engines, resulting in a repetitive cycle.
It is crucial for NASCAR to find a solution to address the issues with races at Superspeedway. These tracks are known for producing the most exciting events in the Cup Series. Failing to do so would have negative consequences both on and off the track for the organization.
