Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR: Denny Hamlin talks 2020 season, iRacing, ALL IN Challenge

By Asher Fair

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

We recently spoke to three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin about the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season thus far and what he has been up to during the stoppage.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin was one of only three drivers who found victory lane during the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season before the season was brought to an abrupt halt as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

For the second consecutive season and the third time in the last five years, Hamlin took the checkered flag to win the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway by just a fraction of a second.

Just three more races were contested before the season was suspended, with the most recent event having taken place on Sunday, March 8 at Phoenix Raceway.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series has served as the virtual replacement for real-life Cup Series action, and Hamlin has been one of the drivers who has really gotten into it, as evidenced by his exorbitant sim rig.

Just as he did in real life, Hamlin won the opener of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series as well. That race was contested at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway. Through five of the six races on the schedule, the 39-year-old Chesterfield, Virginia native sits in eighth place in the unofficial championship standings. He had been in second before this disastrous incident with his seven-year-old daughter, Taylor.

The sixth and final race on the schedule is scheduled to take place at virtual Dover International Speedway this Sunday, May 3. Real action is scheduled to resume without fans in attendance at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, May 17.

We had the chance to talk to Hamlin about his real-life season thus far as well as iRacing before things start to pick back up at the actual race track. Special thanks to Hamlin for his time.

Asher Fair, Beyond the Flag (BTF): How long have you been competing in iRacing, and how long have you used the cockpit setup you use?

Denny Hamlin: I’ve been iRacing for about 15-20 years, although I went a long time without racing at all. Currently I am using a SimCraft setup.

BTF: Do you use your simulator as a tool to prepare for actual races?

Hamlin: I have used the simulator in the past to get used to a number of tracks around the country. Of course it isn’t the real thing but it’s about as close as you can get without the actual movement or g-forces.

BTF: Which is more challenging to master, virtual racing or real-life racing?

Hamlin: I think the real race track is harder to master, just because of the speed. It takes a while to get your body, mind and instincts acclimated to the speed of the cars and split-second decisions. And of course, as you progress higher and higher, the competition is that much better, so success is more and more challenging to obtain.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

BTF: Among the drivers in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, who do you think is the driver to beat in any given virtual race?

Hamlin: The guys with experience are going to shine, which is what you saw over the first few weeks. You obviously think of William Byron and Timmy Hill, but I was pleased to get the win in the first week at Homestead-Miami. Those two guys in particular have thousands and thousands of laps in iRacing and hundreds of races and wins. Like anything else, experience is vital.

BTF: Are there any specific virtual races or venues you were looking forward to during these unexpected off weeks?

Hamlin: Despite not getting the win it was good to go to virtual Richmond, which is my hometown track. I went there as a kid growing up and it will always be a special place for me.

BTF: How cool is it, in your opinion, that NASCAR has something like this where you can literally drive a virtual car while you’re not driving a real car? As Jeff Gordon noted during the virtual broadcast, other sports simply don’t have this advantage of keeping the competition alive in the midst of this pandemic.

Hamlin: It certainly keeps the sport relevant and hopefully is entertaining fans during this difficult time. If we get more fans interested in the sport as a result of this it will be considered a huge success and I hope we do.

BTF: What else have you been doing to keep busy during this time?

Hamlin: I’m spending a lot of time with my daughters, playing board games and having some fun around the house. It’s challenging, but it’s great to spend so much time at home with them. Apart from that, iRacing takes up a lot of my time, because as well as the race each weekend we also have to put practice in during the week.

BTF: If NASCAR does return soon [date and track now confirmed], what would your thoughts be about running in front of empty grandstands?

Hamlin: I think generally speaking we’ll be one of the first sports back as there’s minimal contact. Going back without fans will probably be the most realistic, but I don’t know that for sure. It’s changing frequently though. The most important thing is the health and safety of all the people it takes to put on a race. I know that NASCAR is working diligently to return in a safe manner. 

BTF: Aside from the obvious positive of another Daytona 500 win, how would you assess your season so far?

Hamlin: It’s nice knowing we’ve got that win, because so much is unknown for the future. How races will be run, where they’ll be run, etc. It will be challenging for the teams and drivers to adapt on the fly, and with the win in our back pocket, we can just focus on going out each race trying to win. That will dictate our strategy.

dark. Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time

BTF: Can you tell me a little bit about the All in Challenge, such as how that started, how you got involved, and what your role in it is going to be?

Hamlin: The ALL IN Challenge is raising millions of dollars to feed those in need during COVID-19. I teamed up with my friend Bubba Watson to offer the winner of the auction the opportunity to play in a foursome with us at Michael Jordan’s new golf course, receive custom-fitted golf clubs, a Richard Mille RM 39-01 and a VIP experience at the Daytona 500, which will include exclusive access and a ride-along on the track with me. My sponsor FedEx will also be donating the shipping of All IN Challenge auction items, helping to ensure 100% of the funds raised will support vital food charities during the pandemic.

Home/NASCAR Cup Series