Denny Hamlin warns Jimmie Johnson, claims the team rebuild with Toyota ‘will take years’
Having built 23XI from the ground up, Denny Hamlin is well aware of the struggles of a NASCAR team owner.
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Denny Hamlin (Credits: IMAGO) and Jimmie Johnson (Credits: @Legacymc/Twitter)
While discussing the mammoth task ahead of Jimmie Johnson and LEGACY MC while rebuilding the team, Denny Hamlin said it would take them years. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran has firsthand experience of the hardships as he and NBA legend Michael Jordan built 23XI Racing from nothing in 2021 with TRD.
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB took the drastic decision to end its relationship with Chevy and join Toyota Garage starting in 2024 last month. The team doesn’t see a future with JGR where they are contenders if they continue being the fifth facets team in the Chevy garage. Jimmie Johnson has put his legacy on lien by taking up team ownership, and he needs to prove doubters wrong by succeeding with TRD.
Denny Hamlin pointed out in his ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast that the biggest task ahead of Jimmie Johnson and his team is rebuilding the team. He said that building a team from the ground up is still not completed at 23Xi though it’s been two and a half years. The team is not where Hamlin and Jordan want it to be, but slowly getting there.
“They are in a rebuilding year for sure. And I think the rebuild will take years for that team to be where they want to be for sure because it just takes time. I could tell you as a guy building a team from the ground up,” Denny Hamlin said.
“Yeah, we’re 2 1/2 years into 23XI, (and) we’re still not where we want to be. But we’re seeing results coming from hires we’ve made, decisions we’ve made with competition and management. Those are starting to show fruit and results,” Denny Hamlin added.
In case you missed it: Denny Hamlin doubts Chevy allies might be sabotaging Jimmie Johnson’s LEGACY MC after Toyota announcement
Denny Hamlin reveals the biggest upside LEGACY MC has in the rebuild efforts
Hamlin claims the team’s only upside during the rebuild is their impressive driving lineup. Noah Gragson and Erik Jones were previously part of TRD, and Hamlin knows their skills and expertise well. Their 2023 season so far has been poor, but it got more to do with the cars and the team fielding than the drivers.
“Noah and Erik are certainly better than their performance and what they’re showing right now. It’s not on them. I don’t think anyone at the team would say, ‘We got a driver problem.’ That team has probably got the most upside when it comes to driver talent for results it’s getting right now. And I know it’s frustrating for them, but obviously there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Hamlin said.
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