As the curtain slowly falls on the careers of NASCAR’s seasoned veterans, Denny Hamlin, the oldest active Cup driver, has candidly shared his thoughts about the new wave of young drivers. In a somewhat unexpected setting, a basketball court, Hamlin aired his concerns about the emerging talents.
The backstory unfolds at the Hoop Group, a five-team basketball league that Hamlin inaugurated in 2016. Based at his North Carolina home’s Sun Energy Arena, this initiative serves as a stress buster for NASCAR racers. However, the introduction of younger participants has seemingly left Hamlin disgruntled. Acknowledging the influx of new faces, Hamlin wryly added, “A lot of energy, not a whole lot of talent. But I don’t know, it should be interesting to see.”
This remark, met with varying reactions from the group, has ignited speculation. Was this a subtle dig at the current dynamics within NASCAR? Several of these fresh talents didn’t hesitate to respond. Max McLaughlin, a 25-year-old World of Outlaws star, and 22-year-old Rajah Caruth, a Spire Motorsports CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winner, were among those who jumped into the conversation, attesting to the Hoop Group’s increasing popularity.
NASCAR’s garage is bustling with rising stars joining teams and fans eagerly awaiting to see the sport’s future unfold through these next-gen drivers. Among them are hotshot talents like Connor Zilisch, William Sawalich, Corey Day, and Carson Hocevar. While these emerging racers show promise, Hamlin seems to cast a skeptical eye on their rising fame.
Amidst a significant sponsor exodus at the end of the last season, Hamlin’s No. 11 JGR team has been put in a precarious position. FedEx, a long-time supporter of Hamlin, along with Mavis Tires, bid farewell. Adding to the blow was the departure of his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, who was instrumental in securing 22 race wins for Hamlin. With these setbacks and the lack of a championship title, Hamlin is facing constant retirement speculation.
However, this hasn’t blinded Hamlin to the spark in the young talents. He recently expressed admiration for Connor Zilisch, who has notched up notable wins including the Rolex 24 in LMP2 and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2024. His winning comeback at the Circuit of the Americas race, despite a pit field penalty, caught Hamlin’s eye. Hamlin praised Zilisch’s maturity and racing skills on his podcast ‘Actions Detrimental,’ saying, “Inside the race car, his craft is amazing.”
Despite Hamlin’s tongue-in-cheek jab at the fresh talents on the basketball court, he acknowledges the prowess of the young racers currently making waves in NASCAR. As the sport transitions to a new era, these mixed sentiments reflect the intriguing dynamic between the old guard and the new generation. The sport’s future appears to be in capable hands, but only time will tell how this youthful energy will shape NASCAR’s trajectory.
