DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing National Debt Relief Toyota is being interviewed during Media Day for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 11, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 11 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Media Day EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602111262500
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing National Debt Relief Toyota is being interviewed during Media Day for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 11, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 11 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Media Day EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602111262500
Denny Hamlin has weighed in on NASCAR's on-track product following the growing criticism from NASCAR fans after the debacle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He has proposed a solution about what could improve the racing at the historic venue.
After the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 26, NASCAR fans, along with the drivers, criticized the on-track racing since it felt more like a follow-the-leader from start to finish. The only time drivers managed to gain places was during the pit cycles or race restarts. And many have chalked the problem up to the Next Gen car, which also includes Denny Hamlin.
While recapping the race on the "Actions Detrimental" podcast uploaded on Monday, the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who sits on the competition committee, shared his stance.
"I would love to work with the competition committee on coming up with a fix, you know, or something that moves the needle for the Next Gen car at Indy," Hamlin said during the podcast on YouTube. "I am an absolute firm believer, and Joe Gibbs Racing would hate me right now because we're so dialed with the way things are, but we got to get the back of the cars up. We got to get the front of the cars down."
JOLIET, IL - JULY 03: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Progressive Insurance Toyota takes questions from the media prior to practice on July 3, 2026, at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL. Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 03 NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series eero 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260703045400
JOLIET, IL - JULY 03: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Progressive Insurance Toyota takes questions from the media prior to practice on July 3, 2026, at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL. Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 03 NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series eero 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260703045400
Hamlin concluded his proposal by explaining that he believes that making the changes to the overbody of the car can improve the racing product at Indianapolis. He said,
"That is the way to fix the racing at Indy. You have to make it to where the air the downforce is coming from the overbody, not the underbody. That is the way."
Denny Hamlin’s proposal comes at a time when NASCAR continues to evaluate ways to improve the Next Gen car across various tracks.
If the change does take place, it won't be the first time NASCAR has taken up on Hamlin’s suggestion.
When NASCAR took Denny Hamlin’s suggestion into consideration
Earlier in July, NASCAR announced that the spoiler for the car at Daytona will be reduced from 7 inches to 4 inches. That is something Hamlin had suggested after the fuel-saving debacle and the 26-car melee at Talladega.
His suggestion came in during an episode of "Actions Detrimental" after the Talladega race.
"I hope next time they try something different," Hamlin said on the podcast uploaded on April 28th. "My first recommendation is please cut the spoiler off this car, please. Do whatever it takes. If we got to run 210 (mph), we'll run 210. Please get some drag out of this car."
While the updated package for Daytona remains to be seen, NASCAR’s decision showed its willingness to consider feedback from drivers.
Read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!
Written by
Chionia Libania Colaco