The Veteran NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has entered the ongoing debate surrounding the future of the sportâs competition package by expressing a firm stance: tire development, not increased horsepower, should be the priority. Hamlin made headlines when he referred to a potential horsepower boost as merely an âillusion,â arguing that it would not significantly enhance the quality of racing.
Hamlin, who has been vocal about changes needed to improve the on-track product, believes that tires with more degradation would create better racing by introducing more strategy and driver skill. According to him, simply adding horsepower might sound appealing to fans and drivers on the surface, but it wouldnât address the core issues affecting race dynamicsâsuch as dirty air, tire grip, and passing difficulty.
In Hamlinâs view, giving teams a tire compound that wears more noticeably over the course of a race would lead to more exciting and unpredictable outcomes. âWhat we really need is a tire that falls off,â he said. âThat changes everything. Drivers would have to manage their cars better, and weâd see more comers and goers throughout a run.â
His comments add to the broader conversation NASCAR is having with teams, drivers, and fans about how to improve racing quality, particularly on intermediate tracks where passing has been challenging under the current aero and engine setup.
As a respected voice in the garage and co-owner of 23XI Racing, Hamlinâs perspective carries weightâand his push for smarter tire innovation over sheer power may influence future decisions in how NASCAR evolves.
