Denny Hamlin says Bristol Dirt Race 'ran its course'

Denny Hamlin has no qualms regarding the Bristol Dirt Race going the way of the dinosaur.

Ahead of last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race, which Hamlin later won, NASCAR announced that concrete will return for Bristol’s spring date, as the track is opting to go back to the usual racing surface instead of bringing dirt in.

While the spectacle was something to marvel at for awhile, Hamlin believes the product on track is better when Bristol uses it’s concrete surface, and that’s not just because he’s coming off a win.

“Who knows if this means that the dirt race entirely will go away, whether they take it to another place or not, but it sounds like it definitely — the Bristol Dirt (Race) is going away. I think that’s, you know, the right thing to do, for sure. I think that, that kind of ran it’s course,” explained Hamlin, via Actions Detrimental. “The fans came out hot and heavy the first year. The second year, eh. But yeah, that’s such a great venue, that you hate to cover it up for dirt. I’m sure SMI probably sees it too. There’s a cost and expense to loading a bunch of dirt into that place, and then cleaning up afterwards.

“So you know, we’ve had that happen, so we know that Bristol Dirt will not return next year. We’re going to be back on the concrete for two races. Me personally, my opinion, I’m looking forward to that.”

Alas, Bristol will remain one of NASCAR’s premier tracks, and sometimes it’s best not to mess with what works. Denny Hamlin and many drivers were in favor of the change, and they got their wish.

Denny Hamlin explains what it means to win in front of Michael Jordan

Meanwhile, There’s nothing like winning in front of the greatest of all time, just ask Denny Hamlin, as he captured victory while Michael Jordan was in attendance at Bristol on Saturday.

Of course, Hamlin’s relationship with Jordan is unique, as the two are friends, business partners and go way back throughout Hamlin’s career. Nevertheless, the thrill remains the same. Hamlin elaborated on what that feeling was like following Saturday’s race at Bristol.

“I have not,” Hamlin responded, asked if he talked to Jordan after his victory. “It was a big weekend for the 45 car, Jay on the car, that clab. I was being a fan boy in the middle of practice. Taking pictures of Tyler Reddick’s suit. Make sure I get that suit after this weekend. Really cool the crossover stuff they’re doing.

“Yeah, I’m jealous at times of the paint schemes, jealous of the M.J. stuff that Tyler gets to run. We’re still partners. Michael views us winning just like he does our race team. He says every weekend he has three chances to win, so this one he won.”

Alas, it was a fantastic weekend for Hamlin, Jordan and 23XI Racing as a whole. Hamlin found Victory Lane, but both Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick moved on to the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. That’s a huge accomplishment for a team that’s still so young into their time in NASCAR.