DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing National Debt Relief Toyota waves to the crowd prior to the running of the 68th NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 15 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602151538500
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing National Debt Relief Toyota waves to the crowd prior to the running of the 68th NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 15 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602151538500
Every year, Daytona brings with it a new level of unpredictability. And this year, to add to that layer of unpredictability, according to Denny Hamlin, NASCAR is bringing new updates to the car to improve superspeedway racing.
Before the Talladega race in April, the sanctioning body announced a change in stage lengths in an effort to reduce fuel-saving strategies. While this addressed the strategic aspect, it did very little for the aerodynamics of the car. This was seen after the 26-car wreck on lap 115.
With Daytona approaching at the end of August, NASCAR is all set to address the issues by bringing upgrades to the car. During his pre-race media availability at EchoPark Speedway, Hamlin was questioned by Steven Taranto if any changes would be made to the car before then.
" I don't know if I should say anything," the three-time Daytona 500 winner said. (via Cup Scene on YouTube)
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 currently sits on NASCAR’s competition committee and has gotten a glimpse into what's about to come at Daytona. He disclosed that there were changes on the way, but is unsure of the extent of their impact.
"There's definitely going to be a change, and it's definitely going to be in the right direction," Hamlin added. "Just don't know how much. From the numbers that I’ve seen, what it’s gonna do to the car when you pull out of line, it roughly cuts that to two-thirds of what it is currently."
"So I think that’s going to make the drivers feel like they have a fighting opportunity when they get in the middle of the pack, to go start the third line, or not just shove the person in front of them."
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver further added that the data has shown early encouraging signs but stopped short of calling it a solution.
"So will it be the just total game-changer back to 1995? Absolutely not. But I think it gets us more in a direction - not there - of where we were seven to 10 years ago," Hamlin concluded
This is not the first time Denny Hamlin has spoken about upgrading the Next Gen car to make racing at superspeedways better.
What Denny Hamlin suggested to NASCAR after Talladega
After the race at Talladega, Denny Hamlin had suggested how NASCAR could improve superspeedway racing. Though he was glad the series tried to do something different by altering stage lengths, he felt a more fundamental change was needed to the car.
During the April 28 episode of his "Actions Detrimental" podcast, the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver said:
"I hope next time they try something different. 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."
The spoiler is like a mini rear wing and a core part of the Next Gen car. On superspeedways, the spoiler is thicker to facilitate better car control. However, according to Hamlin, cutting the spoiler will aid in better racing.
This suggestion is something that the sanctioning body might be considering. Now, with the new changes on the horizon, whether Denny Hamlin’s suggestion is one of the upgrades that will be seen on the car at Daytona is something that remains to be seen.
Read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!
Written by
Chionia Libania Colaco
Edited by
Yash Kotak