DAYTONA BEACH — Going through the assembly line-type exercise of meeting with waves of media. Getting the right fit for the seat in his No. 11 Toyota. Testing, understanding and re-familiarizing the nuances of superspeedway braking. And simply shifting through the gears during the opening practice session.
By bits and pieces, Denny Hamlin is starting to feel like himself again. Ready to win a fourth Daytona 500. Ready to finally claim the elusive NASCAR season championship. Ready to remain a voice for drivers (since he is one) and team owners (since he is one).
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“Those are the things that get you excited for this race weekend,” Hamlin said during Daytona 500 Media Day on Feb. 11. “For me, it is understanding I’m back in a routine.”
For Hamiln, the brief offseason was anything but routine. The opposite of routine, actually. He testified in a trial he helped bring against NASCAR to make the relationship more financially pliable and the sides ultimately reached a settlement, a massive win for team owners.
Hamlin should have been sky high … until Dec. 29, when his father, Dennis, died from injuries sustained in a house fire. Denny’s mother, Mary Lou, was also injured but is at Daytona with her son.
Returning to the track serves as equal parts diversion and devastation — diversion because your work always helps re-focus/re-purpose the mind, but also devastation because Dennis, who was in declining health last year, won’t be at the track.
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That is the mental wrestling match Hamlin continues to fight.
“I would be lying if I said I was as highly motivated as I have been in years past,” Hamlin said. “Every day at the racetrack, I’m certainly getting there. I know I’m way too competitive to go through the motions.”
Uplifting win, tragic loss
Along with Michael Jordan, Hamlin is co-owner of 23XI Racing and once they entered the ownership space, they became acutely aware of competing in NASCAR isn’t a profit-making adventure.
(It reminded me of when I covered horse racing and one of the trainers said, “This sport makes millionaires out of billionaires.”)
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Auto racing is different, though.
The antitrust suit brought by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports alleged NASCAR was acting as a monopoly and how they made take it or leave it charter offers to teams. Jordan and Hamlin wanted NASCAR/team owners to be more of a partnership.
Hamlin was the first witness and told the jury that 23XI and the other NASCAR team owners are “essentially just professional fundraisers,” due to the sport’s business model.
“The difficult part is coming up with tens of millions (of dollars) just to break even,” he said, adding the profit margin was 2.26%.
As the contentious trial was nearing the finish line, the sides reached a settlement. Charters for all teams would be permanent and teams will now see revenue from international media rights
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“We were adamant whatever changes (carried over to all teams),” Hamlin said.
Hamlin’s world was shattered less than a month later, though, with his father’s death.
Hamlin takes solace in the final race his father saw him run was last year’s finale in Phoenix when he was three laps away from the title and a late caution forced overtime. Kyle Larson won the race and the title.
“I feel good about the last race my dad got to see — I was at my best (and) as good as I’ll ever be,” Hamlin said.
Chase for title continues
Hamlin starts the season tied for 10th with Kevin Harvick for most Cup series wins and is three behind Kyle Busch for most among active drivers. Now 45, could Hamlin get on a hot streak to catch Dale Earnhardt Sr. (76)? He has the Joe Gibbs Racing infrastructure and horsepower behind him.
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First up is winning his fourth Daytona 500 (2016 and 2019-20) to tie Cale Yarborough for second-most behind Richard Petty (seven). Last year, Hamlin was spun out as the last-lap leader, forcing overtime and William Byron’s second consecutive win.
“The list is so small (with at least four 500 wins),” Hamlin said. “It certainly was on my mind last year on the last lap when we were leading that we were going to get another one.”
A fourth 500 win would be terrific, obviously, but the only check mark left for Hamlin is the series championship.
Hamlin is clearly the best driver to never win a NASCAR title. Check out his year-by-year points finishes — third, 13th, eighth, fifth, second, ninth, sixth, 23rd, third, ninth, sixth, sixth, 11th, fourth, fourth, third, fifth, fifth, eighth and second.
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One of these years, we all thought, Hamlin would break through and clinch the title. But the years are winding down. Bobby Allison is the oldest Cup champion at 46. Drivers must stay healthy, not lose their nerve and remain in good standing with sponsors and team owners, just to name three.
But don’t count out Denny Hamlin. He won six times last year and the new format to the chase (top points finishers, period) should reward consistent racers like himself.
“We’re getting there,” Hamlin said of his mindset. “I’ve still got plenty of fire left, plenty of ability left.”
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: After legal win, dad’s death, Denny Hamlin sets sight on first title
