Denny Hamlin warns NASCAR against reducing horsepower further to ‘entice’ someone new to the sport

Denny Hamlin has long been an advocate of increasing horsepower to fix passing problem.

Denny Hamlin warns NASCAR against reducing horsepower further to ‘entice’ someone new to the sport

Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott (Via IMAGO)

NASCAR has been facing some major issues regarding the Next-Gen car racing in the short tracks and one of the most suggested solutions to the issue has been increasing horsepower. The teams and drivers have been urging NASCAR to make the changes, but the sanctioning body refused to cater to the demand and was pondering on finding other solutions.

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin recently spoke about the issue and pointed out that increasing the HP is the only option. He has been part of multiple tests done by the sanctioning body over the years in an effort to solve the issue and none so far has worked. Hence the three times Daytona 500 winner believes the driver’s demand for increased HP is the right choice.

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He later asserted that he even doesn’t fully understand why NASCAR is taking this stand. Hamlin added that the regulatory body is looking into attracting new manufacturers and other partners to the sport. But Hamlin has cautioned NASCAR against sacrificing the actual race product to entice someone new to the sport.

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I don’t understand – there is obviously other reasons. They are trying to get other manufacturers in here and do this or do that. There is a bigger picture that I won’t understand, you won’t understand. No one will ever understand, but we don’t need to sacrifice our actual product for trying to entice someone new.
Hamlin said via NBC Sports.

How to fix the issue according to Denny Hamlin?

Hamlin has urged the sanctioning body to fix the issue by working on the over-use of gas by drivers during the races. This coupled with tire issues is why passing is difficult on short tracks, hence an easy fix to this would help better the race product.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin (Credits: Imago)
You have to get us out of the gas, whether through the tire or the horsepower. That combination is what makes passing so difficult.
Hamlin said.

NASCAR should use the 2024 season as the one to find the right solution for the issue and has to do more tests to fix the issue if they don’t see the increasing the Horsepower as the solution. But if their solutions didn’t yield results, NASCAR shouldn’t hesitate to listen to the drivers.

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