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Denny Hamlin gives 'pitch' to Lewis Hamilton during Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend

JHby: Jonathan Howard11/18/23Jondean25
Denny Hamlin Phoenix championship
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

There are a number of NASCAR stars that have descended on Las Vegas for the F1 race. Denny Hamlin is included in that group. However, it might be more than just an offseason trip for the 23XI Racing co-owner. Hamlin looked like he was doing a little bit of business.

On his Instagram Story, Denny Hamlin posted some pictures of him talking with seven-time F1 champion, Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton is a motorsports star who transcends his own sport. Truly a superstar racer, champion, and icon.

Well, the two got to talking and there was a handshake involved at one point. While some joked Denny was making his “pitch” to Hamilton – possibly about driving the No. 67 for a one-off in NASCAR, the driver-owner didn’t back off of that assumption.

In fact, he kind of leaned into it. “This was actually the peak of the pitch,” Hamlin tweeted in response to podcaster Chase Holden of Garage Guys.

This season, 23XI Racing put Travis Pastrana in the Daytona 500 driving the No. 67 Toyota Camry TRD. Kamui Kobayashi also piloted the car when he raced at the Indy Road Course. While those are two accomplished drivers and racers, Hamilton would be otherworldly.

So, what are the chances that Lewis Hamilton takes Denny Hamlin up on a NASCAR offer?

Denny Hamlin looking to bring another F1 champ to NASCAR?

Of course, if we look at the Project 91 car and the work done by Mobil 1 this season with Stewart-Haas Racing and Rick Ware Racing – an F1 champion racing in NASCAR isn’t unheard of. Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button, two former F1 champions, have both driven in NASCAR in the last year.

For those drivers, the rough beating and banging of stock car racing was a bit of a culture shock.

However, Denny Hamlin is (allegedly) talking to a seven-time champ. That doesn’t happen often in motorsports. NASCAR has three, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson. F1 has two in Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.

I wouldn’t get too excited over any of this. It’s offseason fun for the most part. However, it would be nothing short of amazing to see Denny Hamlin land Hamilton for the 67 car. With all of the international interest in the sport, why not?