Denny Hamlin Interview
About this episode
Denny Hamlin talks with Kevin Harvick about bouncing back after a brutal winter of family turmoil and legal fallout, then returning to win in Vegas with a calmer, more controlled mindset. They dig into Hamlin’s thoughts on chasing milestones like 70 wins, the value of experience versus “young talent,” and why he chose to step away when he did. Hamlin also praises Joe Gibbs Racing’s 11 team, discusses Tyler Reddick’s breakout start and what’s still needed on short tracks, and weighs NASCAR’s future schedule, charter system, and driver ladder opportunities.
off season
"A lot of that was not racing at all, but you just don't know. And the off season was like, do I still have the speed that I had before?"
The off season is the break between racing stretches. Teams use that time to figure out what worked, what didn’t, and how to be faster when the next season starts.
In NASCAR, the off season is the period between races when teams regroup and prepare for the next year. It’s when drivers and crews evaluate performance, adjust setups, and work on fitness and strategy so they can return with speed.
speed
"And the off season was like, do I still have the speed that I had before? And then the gratification of knowing that all my family was there"
When they say “speed,” they mean how fast the car can go and how well it performs. After time off, drivers worry they might not feel as confident or the car might not be as quick as before.
“Speed” in NASCAR typically means overall performance—how quickly the car can run and how strong it is across different track conditions. It’s influenced by car setup, tire management, and driver comfort, and it’s often the first thing teams evaluate after a break.
top team
"But if you were with a top team like I am, and you were still at the skill set you felt like you were in your last year, would you go one more then?"
A “top team” is basically a really strong NASCAR organization. They usually have better support and faster cars, so it’s easier to keep performing instead of starting over.
In NASCAR, a “top team” generally means an organization with strong engineering support, proven car setups, and a history of winning. Being on one can reduce the learning curve compared to joining a new team with different systems and communication styles.
Stuart Haas
"But you know, at Stuart Haas, it was kind of the end. Right."
Stuart-Haas is a well-known NASCAR racing team. It’s the kind of organization that can give drivers strong equipment and support.
Stuart-Haas Racing (often shortened to SHR) is a major NASCAR team organization. The name comes from co-owners Gene Haas and Tony Stewart, and it’s known for fielding competitive cars and drivers.
learn another system
"And I didn't want to go to another team and learn another system. That's right."
Each team has its own way of doing things. If you switch teams, you have to learn how they set up the car and how they work with you during races.
“Learning another system” refers to adapting to a new team’s processes—how they communicate, set up the car, and make adjustments during a race. In NASCAR, that can be a major factor when deciding whether to switch teams late in a career.
balance of commitments
"it became like a balance of, okay, like, you know, Keeland was racing and, you know, I've got the opportunity with Fox to go and say, okay, I can work for 14, 16 weeks... So it was a tough decision."
He’s talking about weighing two big parts of his life: racing and another job. NASCAR schedules are demanding, so fitting everything together is hard.
The “balance” described is about managing competing career paths—racing full-time versus taking on media or other work. In NASCAR, timing matters because race schedules and team obligations are intense and leave little flexibility.
Dale Jarrett
"And I had to call, I called Dale Jarrett. I called a bunch of people just to say, okay, how do you know?"
Dale Jarrett is a former NASCAR driver and a well-known figure in the sport. Calling him suggests the speaker sought advice from an experienced veteran about career decisions and what to expect after stepping away from racing.
NASCAR Cup Series
"...because I think experience in NASCAR, in the NASCAR Cup Series really matters."
NASCAR has different racing levels. The Cup Series is the highest level, with the most competitive teams and drivers.
The NASCAR Cup Series is NASCAR’s top-level stock-car racing series in the U.S. It’s where the sport’s biggest teams, drivers, and competition level are concentrated.
practice
"...and it's how I knew after practice is like, yeah, we're good because I knew that, yep, it's got the same feel..."
Practice sessions are used to learn how the car behaves and how the track feels, often leading to adjustments in setup and driving approach. In NASCAR, practice performance can be a key indicator of race-day potential.
contracts
"you go through all the stuff that you've gone through over the last couple of years with lawsuits and your family and ups and downs and contracts, but it's, it's, you're pretty open about everything."
In NASCAR, driver contracts cover things like ride/seat commitments, sponsor obligations, and performance expectations. Changes in contracts can affect team dynamics, car resources, and long-term career planning.
lawsuits
"you go through all the stuff that you've gone through over the last couple of years with lawsuits and your family and ups and downs and contracts, but it's, it's, you're pretty open about everything."
Lawsuits can arise in motorsports from sponsorship disputes, contractual disagreements, or other legal conflicts. Even when they don’t directly change the car’s mechanical setup, they can influence team stability and driver focus.
Joe Gibbs
"But your relationship with Joe Gibbs is, I mean, it never seems to waver... Because it just seems like you guys have always just been together."
Joe Gibbs is the key person behind Joe Gibbs Racing. The conversation is about how Denny Hamlin’s relationship with that team leadership has stayed strong over time.
Joe Gibbs is the founder of Joe Gibbs Racing, one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations. The interview highlights the long-running driver-team relationship and how it shapes continuity and performance.
pit road
"I just never will forget when my dad and him were out on pit road and, you know, my dad goes to him."
Pit road is where the race team goes to work on the car during the race. It’s a special area with rules so the crew can change things quickly and safely.
Pit road is the controlled lane where NASCAR teams service the car during a race. Crew members can make adjustments and perform pit stops under strict rules, and it’s also a place where team members and drivers interact.
pit crew
"It's just, I got a really good rapport with crew chief engineers that the pit crew, they've been to, you know, I've had the same group of guys now for like two or three years straight."
The pit crew handles fast service during scheduled pit stops—tire changes, refueling, and adjustments—while minimizing time lost. Pit crew performance is a major factor in NASCAR because even small delays can cost track position and race outcome.
switched from Chris
"Is that the way you thought it would go when you switched from Chris? No, I was. I mean, that was the biggest Beef I had with the whole situation is when you just got to talking about, well, I didn't want to start over with someone else."
Switching crew chiefs (or other key leadership roles) in NASCAR can change how the team approaches car setup, race strategy, and communication. Even with the same driver and organization, a new crew chief can mean a different development direction and learning curve.
Chris Gale
"But I tell you, working with Chris Gale, it's really been an honor. And he's, he's really done a great job of taking this team and making it better."
Chris Gale is referenced here as the crew chief/lead figure Hamlin is working with after the switch. In NASCAR, the crew chief’s influence shows up in car development, race strategy, and how quickly the team improves over a season.
all-star team
"Yeah, it's pretty amazing to, you know, you think you've got this all-star team and everything that you've got going on. And then all of a sudden everybody has to stop and think and say, okay, he's a good driver."
Hamlin is basically saying the team is stacked with great people. But even then, the driver still has to perform well in the race.
An “all-star team” in NASCAR is a shorthand for a group of top-tier talent—driver, crew chief, engineers, and pit crew—working together. The point Hamlin makes is that even with elite personnel, the driver still has to deliver on-track performance.
crew chief
"He's a good crew chief. We have this great organization..."
The crew chief is like the team’s main strategist. They make key decisions during the race and help guide how the car is set up.
A “crew chief” is the lead strategist for a NASCAR team, responsible for race calls, pit strategy, and overall car setup direction. The crew chief works closely with engineers and the driver to adjust the car based on track conditions and performance. The speaker’s mention frames how leadership continuity and relationships matter.
point standings
"You got the first two guys atop the point standings."
“Point standings” refers to NASCAR’s season-long ranking system based on race results and bonus points. Teams track where drivers sit in the standings because it affects playoff positioning and strategy. Being “atop the point standings” means leading the championship race.
Daytona 500
"...not only the first three races, but the Daytona 500. You know how special that is."
The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s most prestigious race, held at Daytona International Speedway. Winning it is a major benchmark for a driver and team because it’s a high-profile, high-competition event with unique superspeedway dynamics. It often signals a team’s readiness for the full season.
competition group
"...Dave Rogers, who runs the competition group over there, has made some personnel changes..."
A “competition group” is the team’s internal performance organization responsible for turning data into race-winning setups and strategies. It typically coordinates engineering, car development, and race-week execution. The speaker credits that group’s leadership and staffing changes for broader team improvement.
personnel changes
"...has made some personnel changes to improve all the teams. We had some extra hires in the off season that improved all departments..."
“Personnel changes” means swapping or adding team members—often engineers, strategists, crew roles, or other performance staff. In NASCAR, these decisions can affect car setup development, race strategy, and how quickly the team learns from data. The speaker links these changes to improved results across departments.
identify the things that I need to improve on
"But I feel like this year he buckled out as like, you know what, I'm going to identify the things that I need to improve on."
This highlights a driver development approach: pinpointing specific weaknesses and targeting them. In racing, that often translates to more precise feedback about the car’s behavior and clearer priorities for engineering changes.
trust that the team is going to improve
"And I'm going to trust that the team is going to improve in the areas that they need to improve on."
He’s saying he’s trusting the team to make the changes based on what he’s seeing. That teamwork is what helps everyone improve together.
This emphasizes the feedback loop between driver and team: the driver communicates what needs to change, and the team responds with engineering and setup improvements. Trust helps ensure that feedback is acted on quickly and effectively.
championship
"[1011.8s] Can they, I mean, do you think that they, like right now, do you think that they could compete with you to race for that championship? [1017.4s] I think that they still got a little room to improve."
The championship is the big goal for the whole season. It’s not only about being near the top—it’s about being good enough across different tracks to finish the season with the most points.
The NASCAR championship is the season-long points battle that determines the overall winner. The speaker frames improvement on specific track types (like short tracks) as necessary to win the championship, not just lead the standings.
Michael Jordan
"[1054.1s] The whole 23-11 thing has been so interesting because you've got one of the world's biggest superstars in Michael Jordan. [1063.9s] You've got yourself, and he said it on the competition side."
Michael Jordan is referenced as a major celebrity figure connected to the competition side. In NASCAR, high-profile owners/sponsors can influence team visibility and branding, even though on-track performance still depends on car setup and execution.
schedule
"I think it's not too early to think about where does the sport go long term with its schedule? Do we race 38 weeks a year?"
The schedule is the list of races and when they happen during the year. Changing it can affect how teams plan travel and how hard the season feels for drivers.
The “schedule” refers to how many races are run and when they occur across the season. In NASCAR, schedule length and timing can influence team logistics, driver workload, and how development programs (like feeder systems) fit into the year.
off weeks
"I thought I heard that the trucks had 14 off weeks. Sure, that'd be a lot more cost effective if we could do that."
An off week is a week where there isn’t a race. It can help teams save money and get ready, but it also changes how often fans get to see racing.
An “off week” is a scheduled break in the NASCAR calendar where teams don’t race. More off weeks can reduce costs and allow teams to reset, but it also changes the rhythm of the season and how fans stay engaged.
long term strategy
"But I think you've got to think about long term where the sport goes. I certainly feel as though NASCAR has got a really good strategy going forward"
Long term strategy means thinking years ahead instead of just the next race. The goal is to make sure the sport keeps getting better and stays interesting for more people.
“Long term strategy” here means planning how NASCAR evolves over multiple seasons, not just week-to-week. That can involve scheduling, race length, and rule/presentation changes aimed at growing the sport sustainably.
caution flags
"“How can we shorten up caution flags to not take 20 minutes?” There's all kinds of little things that I think could improve the fan experience."
A caution flag means something is wrong on the track, so cars slow down for safety. It can make the race feel like it’s taking longer because everyone has to go slower for a while.
In NASCAR, a caution flag is shown when there’s a hazard on track (like debris or an accident). The field slows down under caution, which can significantly affect race flow and total time.
fan experience
"How can we shorten up caution flags to not take 20 minutes? There's all kinds of little things that I think could improve the fan experience."
Fan experience is basically how the race feels to watch. That can include things like how long delays last and how the broadcast keeps you interested.
“Fan experience” refers to how enjoyable and engaging the race is for spectators, both in-person and on TV. In NASCAR discussions, it often includes race pacing, broadcast presentation, and how quickly incidents are handled.
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