Reportedly, NASCAR was going to shove the rule guide apart for this yr’s All-Star Race, giving groups the chance to push their ingenuity to absolutely the restrict and work outdoors of the often inflexible parameters for the Subsequent Gen automobile. Principally, a race with Subsequent Gen automobiles and elements, however no restrict on what groups may do to them. Nonetheless, this thrilling ‘run what you brung’ idea by no means materialized as a result of the groups have been towards it.
Denny Hamlin, who competes for Joe Gibbs Racing but additionally co-owns 23XI Racing, gave some perception into why on his weekly podcast, Actions Detrimental. Hamlin additionally did his personal analysis, reaching out to different groups to be taught extra about their causes whereas opening up on his personal.
A unbelievable however costly present
Ultimately, it got here right down to cash for many. The associated fee far outweighed the $1 million greenback prize, however Hamlin admits that it may have resulted in an exciting present for the followers.
“When you’re simply speaking to me — the race automobile driver and the fan — I’m going to say, rattling, I want we had this,” mentioned Hamlin. “This could be unbelievable. There may probably be one thing that will get realized for the brief observe package deal that would make it higher. You already know, the considered having automobiles which are completely different speeds than one another is unbelievable. Which means passing will probably be extra plentiful. There are plenty of positives that would come from that.”
However the $1 million greenback query stays: “Everybody desires to go have enjoyable and do all this stuff, however who’s going to pay for it?”
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
Placing his staff proprietor hat again on, Hamlin then detailed how they’d have “destroyed three of our automobiles to construct this automobile. Underneath the principles that have been sort of put in entrance of us, you must use Subsequent Gen elements, however you are able to do no matter you need to them. So what we’ll do is destroy every bit and a part of that automobile and make it lighter or one thing. We’ll modify it. We’ll bend the chassis. We’ll do all kinds of issues that can make it unlawful at some other race observe that we go to.”
A part of the issue is that $1 million {dollars} to win just isn’t almost as engaging because it was 20+ years in the past, even with out the extra monetary burden of modifying present automobiles for an exhibition race. Hamlin reiterated the way it would not be value it, whether or not one in all his 23XI automobiles went on to win the principle occasion or not. He estimated that prices could be almost double that of the winner’s purse in the long run.
“As a fan, as a driver, I want we may do it, however beneath the parameters that have been set, it simply wasn’t thought out sufficient,” concluded Hamlin. “It isn’t possible and no staff goes to enroll to voluntarily lose thousands and thousands of {dollars}.”
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Denny Hamlin
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e-mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to information alerts
