Denny Hamlin explains expectations for Juan Pablo Montoya's NASCAR return at Watkins Glen
This weekend, Juan Pablo Montoya joins the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time in a decade and Denny Hamlin has expectations. Of course, JPM will be driving for Hamlin with 23XI Racing.
Denny Hamlin is once again fielding a third entry in the Cup Series. Juan Pablo Montoya is going to give the No. 50 Mobil 1 scheme its final ride of the season. It has been a special collaboration between Toyota and the motor oil brand.
Days ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya’s return, Hamlin talked about expectations on his Actions Detrimental podcast.
“Yeah that will be exciting. You know, excited to see how he does,” Hamlin said. “He got to go test at VIR [Virginia International Raceway] that we talked about here a few weeks ago. So, I think he’s excited to go back and it will be cool to see how he does. He’s going to have a little bit of rust to start the day, I really do. But I think he’s going to show speed by the end of practice more than likely, and I think we have an extended practice there.”
As far as how he will do in the race, Denny Hamlin is less certain.
“I don’t know, I don’t know how much sim he’s running or going to run. If I know Juan very well he’s probably going to be like, ‘Ah, simulation, whatever. I’m just going to go out there and run.’ I think that uh, we said this a few weeks ago, I think he’s probably underestimating how good and fast the Cup field has gotten over the last decade since he ran last, but it will be entertaining nonetheless.”
When it comes to road courses, you will find the drivers who are in sims more than others have begun to gain an edge. Tyler Reddick is a driver who took to the simulator to improve his road course skills and is now one of the best road course racers in the Cup Series.
23XI Racing has had mixed results with the third open car. Since 2023, Travis Pastrana has the best finish in the third car. He finished P11 in the Daytona 500 in 2023, racing in the No. 67 Toyota Camry.
There is a real opportunity for Juan Pablo Montoya to outperform drivers such as Kamui Kobayashi and Corey Heim this weekend. Both have given the 23XI car a try. Neither has finished better than P29. With that said, no pressure, right?