Denny Hamlin reacts to success of Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace heading into regular season finale
There is only one more race left in the regular season and Denny Hamlin has two drivers on opposite ends of the NASCAR Playoffs. Tyler Reddick is prepared to clinch the regular season championship and Bubba Wallace is fighting from 21 points down to make it into the postseason.
Reddick enters 17 points up on Kyle Larson, 18 up on Chase Elliott. Wallace trails Chris Buescher by 21 points, but leads Ross Chastain by six points. One early DNF or mistake could be costly for any of these drivers.
This week on Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin talked about the progress 23XI Racing has made. He set a five-year plan to become a championship-contending organization. They had two playoff cars last year.
This season, they could end up with both teams in the postseason again. But most important, is that regular season championship. 23XI Racing almost has it in their grasp.
“It means a lot, it really does. I mean, I’m very proud of what we’ve built over there [at 23XI Racing] and building it from scratch has not been easy, a lot of things take time,” Hamlin explained. “Although we may have, there’s probably things on the list right now where, ‘Okay, here’s what I want my competition department to work on next,’ That project might take a year, two to actually finish, right? We’re just now building our pit crew facility, that’s going to take another three months. It will be done right on time, right when the season’s over. So, like, just things take time, right?
“So when I said it would take five years to build a championship-contending organization, I knew that was a realistic number. While it seems easy to do it quicker, it is not because starting this thing from scratch was hard because you don’t have – if you want to start a new department, well you gotta find the talent, and we’re not going to just hire people just to hire them, we’re going to make sure it’s the right people. I think Dave Rodgers and that whole team, the competition department have just done a fabulous job, putting the right people in the right places to succeed.”
With so much on the line this weekend, Denny Hamlin would love to see his teams fulfill their goals. If they leave Darlington with a regular season championship AND the 23 car makes the playoffs, it will be a big celebration at Air Speed on Monday.
“Certainly would love to see them get this thing to the finish line next week.”
Denny Hamlin is in a tough position. As an owner, he wants to see Tyler Reddick win now and at Phoenix. However, he is a driver. Joe Gibbs Racing has championship aspirations as well.
So, there is a fine line. Hamlin is racing against his own drivers on a weekly basis. The NASCAR Playoffs are going to heighten that contradiction even more.
Darlington will determine the regular season champion and the playoff drivers. 23XI Racing is hoping to have two entries, and a big trophy as well. Will they succeed in their efforts? Or will it be a disappointing weekend? A Sunday is only a few days away.