Denny Hamlin pleads with NASCAR to postpone Chicago Street Race until Monday

If you’re taking a tally, Denny Hamlin is firmly in the camp of people that want NASCAR to postpone the Chicago Street Race to Monday. His reasoning is simple, it would be a better race in the sun and dry conditions than in rain. Given all of the issues that have come up this weekend, could it hurt that much?

Denny Hamlin is the pole sitter after claiming the top spot in qualifying yesterday. He wants to see the rain put off one more day. I’m not sure NASCAR or the city officials in Chicago are so keen on extending this weekend one more day. Especially if they see a path to race today.

Earlier today, Hamlin tweeted “Tomorrow seems like a great day for a reset.” Meaning good weather, good for the fans, and a better product. Take a day and bring it all together on Monday.

Now he’s gotten much more direct as teams are starting to put rain tires on their cars.

“We cannot control god,” Denny Hamlin tweeted. “What we can control is our decisions and reactions to unforeseen circumstances. Please [NASCAR]. Do not do this. We have too much positive momentum around this weekend to change the narrative now.”

We cannot control god. What we can control is our decisions and reactions to unforeseen circumstances. Please @NASCAR . Do not do this. We have too much positive momentum around this weekend to change the narrative now.

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) July 2, 2023

Surprisingly, Denny Hamlin was fantastic in practice and qualifying at Chicago. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver didn’t have high hopes coming into the weekend. However, he clearly picked a thing or two up on iRacing or the simulator. He didn’t seem to mind the walls on either side of him during his qualifying runs.

Denny Hamlin outpaces Tyler Reddick, Shane van Gisbergen

It isn’t like this field of NASCAR drivers is your usual left-turn-only group of drivers. Talented street course aces, Shane van Gisbergen and Jenson Button, were strong in practice and qualifying. For van Gisbergen, it could be a glimpse into his future career. He’s a three-time champion in Supercars, why not come to America and conquer another series?

As for Button, his F1 experience has clearly paid off. Not to mention he raced at COTA this season as well as all of his work at Le Mans with Garage 56. Hamlin beat them out and his own driver, Tyler Reddick for the pole award. Another strong road course driver, Reddick showed the same skills on the streets of Chicago. Bossman was just a little faster.

If this race ever gets going, we should have an interesting matchup. I’d love to see van Gisbergen get a win. He’s a talent that could not just get eyes on the sport now but could expand the sport to new markets in the future.

At just 34 years old, van Gisbergen could have a pretty long NASCAR career ahead of him if he wants to. Will he have enough to take down Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick in Chicago?