DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — With three Daytona 500 victories already, Denny Hamlin enters Sunday’s 66th Daytona 500 in a secure position as one of the best ever in NASCAR’s biggest race.
He might be the most skilled restrictor-plate track driver at Daytona Int’l Speedway since the late, great Dale Earnhardt or his son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
The site of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota in the rear-view mirror casts an intimidating presence, especially at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. This year, Hamlin has the potential to add to his legacy at the Daytona 500, elevating him to even higher ranks.
“I think with each win, it puts you in a different category, right?” Hamlin responded. “And certainly, with some of the numbers that Richard (Petty) put up (seven Daytona 500 wins), or Cale (Yarborough, four Daytona 500 wins), it’s hard to duplicate even in today’s type racing where there’s more cars on the lead lap and more cars in the front pack.
“I think accomplishments like that certainly puts you in an upper echelon of drivers that were legends in this sport, so it would certainly mean a lot.”
Hamlin is currently in an impressive group of three-time Daytona 500 winners that includes Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon. Right below them are two-timers Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Secure in his place in Daytona 500 history, Hamlin believes that allows him to focus on achieving more success.
“Me personally, I’d say it takes it off (the pressure),” Hamlin said. “There are many great drivers, certainly better than I am, that have never won this race and they deem it as a hole in their career. I think it’s a different type of racing now than what it used to be.
“It was a little more predictable back then because the cars were on edge and the great drafters found their way and position. It’s just a little different with the Next Gen era for sure. But having multiple wins in this certainly takes the pressure off. There’s just more to gain, not much to lose if you don’t accomplish it this year.”
In 19 years, Hamlin has 51 NASCAR Cup Series victories and has already accomplished nearly everything except one major accolade — a Cup Series Championship.
Which is more important to Hamlin — a Daytona 500 victory or a championship?
“By the outside views, this is the pinnacle of our sport,” Hamlin said. “The championship is decided in one race just like this is decided in one race. I’m not really sure, it just depends on whose perspective it might be.
“But certainly, with the championship getting a smaller and smaller sample size, I view them very similarly.”
One driver who has won both on multiple occasions is two-time Daytona 500 winner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson. Now one of the owners of Legacy Motor Club, Johnson has seen the team switch from Chevrolet to Toyota.
Hamlin is the lead Toyota driver at Joe Gibbs Racing. The new alignment has helped forge mutual admiration between the two racing greats.
What are the areas that Johnson admires about Hamlin?
“His commitment to his craft,” Johnson said. “He’s had that from the early days. When we were competitors, it was hard — we still are — but the Toyota family does offer a layer of being on the same team.
“I’ve spent more time chatting with him on his perspective on many things here recently than I have in all of the years that we were truly competitors on the track. He was nice enough to give me a lift down here today, so we got to chat some more.
“The competition aspect — everyone is kind of in their own lane — but he was always committed to always growing his skill set and I know he studied my work at Martinsville for many years.
“Next thing you know he was the guy I had to beat at Martinsville, and watched him kind of evolve and always have that mindset to work and hone his craft, and then spending time today talking to him about the ownership side, and his new building opening up and their vision on where they are going and how involved he is — I’m able to see more of that.
“He’s constantly evolving and trying to recreate himself as a driver or as a businessman.”
Hamlin has become a leader in the garage. His voice and words carry weight with NASCAR as he tries to advocate for a better sport and a better series, even if it creates resentment from spectators.
“I think that speaks to part of his evolution,” Johnson said. “He has his podcast. He is very opinionated and is very honest about his opinion and has certainly been honest about where his motivation is coming from with those boos.
“It’s not easy to do — I think when I watch, I see an authentic Denny (Hamlin) responding in that way. He’s not making it up and it’s not bothering me, and he goes home and it’s really bothering him — I really think it is fuel for him.
“I don’t think that Denny Hamlin that showed up in ’05, ’06 — somewhere in there wasn’t at that point. It’s tough to be at that point early in your career, but his evolution has led him to this place.”
And that is a place where Hamlin has become a favorite to win the Daytona 500, although Hamlin may think otherwise.
“There are none in this race,” Hamlin said. “There is no favorite in this race.”
Maybe not a clear-cut favorite, but Hamlin comes pretty close to that role.