Denny Hamlin pleads to Joe Gibbs Racing to run Xfinity Series superspeedway race: 'That is how racing used to be'

Denny Hamlin does not think too highly of modern superspeedway racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. But when it comes to the Xfinity Series, Hamlin loves the product.

And after watching this past Sunday’s Xfinity race at Talladega Superspeedway, Hamlin wants in on the action. He said on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast that he wants to run one final Xfinity race at a superspeedway.

“I used to think there was no way I would sign up for superspeedway racing, but I would love — Joe Gibbs Racing if you’re hearing this — sign me up for a Xfinity superspeedway race,” Hamlin said.

Hamlin has been critical of superspeedway racing in the Next Gen car, where drivers are often stuck in the pack and unable to pull out of line and make runs. It’s the opposite in Xfinity, and that’s the superspeedway racing Hamlin remembers fondly.

Denny Hamlin on Xfinity Series superspeedway racing: ‘That is how racing used to be’

“That is how racing used to be. That is how good we used to have it and we just never knew it. Like, these cars are moving around, you can create runs,” Hamlin said. “I know someone on social would do this for me, give me a side-by-side of the last two laps of Xfinity versus the last two laps of the Cup race. Tell me what was more compelling for you. The racing is so good.

“It’s so good and it’s because they have the bubble effect where they get close to each other, they push each other away instead of having to make contact. Xfinity, man, it just looks so fun. I wanna do it. Before I retire, I wanna do it. One more Xfinity race. … I would probably want to do Daytona because the runs are a little bigger than what they are at Talladega.”

Hamlin last competed in a Xfinity race in 2023, winning at Darlington Raceway. His last superspeedway start came in 2012 at Daytona International Speedway. Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 winner but after this year’s race in which he wrecked on the final lap, he believes it’s turned into a game of luck.

“I feel like the Daytona 500 is a microcosm of the sport in general as to how we crown our champion now as well,” Hamlin said at the time. “It started with the competition group a decade ago when we took away horsepower because we wanted to look good on TV, we wanted you to think they can pass, but not that they can actually pass. For me, it’s gotten to the place where the entertainment of it has far taken over the sport of it. And I don’t know how to reverse things.”