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Denny Hamlin Hints NASCAR’s Interest in His Million-Dollar Idea That Had 45,000 Fans & Drivers Hooked Instantly

Published 05/12/2023, 2:11 PM EDT

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Marketing is perhaps the quintessential element in any activity or business that serves a large number of people. It ensures that the product reaches its targeted audience and also caters to the needs of the organization. The world of sports is no exception. Sports organizations brainstorm ideas in order to make sure that the popularity of their leagues keeps increasing. So does NASCAR. Being a niche sport with a specific set of fans, the organization always has to look into the fact that it doesn’t lose its luster. Even Denny Hamlin endorses this idea. 

It’s no secret that NASCAR has been trying to broaden its fanbase. The move to the Chicago Street Circuit and Garage 56 project, both are a testimony to this. And some feel that Denny Hamlin’s Bracket Challenge is a successful approach to get fans to take more interest in the sport.

Denny Hamlin accepts that drivers like the new bracketing system

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Hamlin had earlier outlined the fact that NASCAR lacks superstar entities like it used to have in previous decades and has failed to reach out to the fans in order to regain its significance. It seems that NASCAR is finally paying heed to it. This is evident from Hamlin’s recent conversation on the Rubbin is Racing podcast. He highlighted how the bracketing system before the races is garnering huge attention from enthusiasts.

The host Large Barstool asked the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, “Like the purist, we don’t need to add any more gimmicks or anything like that. But people like us who like to make the sport more interesting by gambling, love the idea of capture market share.”

He also added, “During those horse latitudes of the summer when we only have baseball, it just makes too much. I would have been knocked out because I had Justin Haley over you in the first round. That’s the whole thing.

Watch This Story: “No Different Than Our Government”: Fans Back Denny Hamlin As He Exposes NASCAR’s The Dirty Tactics

To which the #11 Toyota driver jokingly said, “I mean first of all, seriously. You are an idiot. But yeah, I mean listen, the drivers were talking about like I got private messages from, saying like this is awesome. You know how pumped that would, to beat one guy this weekend. Sure it’s in the dog days of summer we are still. It doesn’t change the race. The race still goes on as normal but all of a sudden a battle for the 16th and 26th right, so it’s like it’s to me free content.”

Will NASCAR take up Hamlin’s ideas and initiatives?

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Speaking on the introduction of the bracketing system, the 23XI Racing co-owner also affirmed the fact, “And you got Bar Stool and Action Network. Those guys always talking about it, that’s a good thing for our sport. You have got so many people to care more about who they are betting on instead of their favorite team.” 

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Hamlin also assured, “I think that you certainly should be able to dominate the summer months when you are going against baseball. It makes too much sense, too much sense to not to do it. Sounds like NASCAR is gonna, you know, take over the keys, next year and do this.”

Speaking of the NASCAR bracket’s concept and popularity, the JGR driver exclaimed, “I think it’s happening, no doubt, especially with the engagement that we got. 45,000 brackets and again promoted by myself and Dirty Mo on our channel. That was it. That was our only promotion, so I think that’s our they see a huge upside to it.”

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Perhaps, Hamlin is right in asserting that the initiative might acquire more fans and make them more hooked on the race. This may turn the tide in favor of NASCAR, which has long been suffering from waning viewership. Or as the 3-times Daytona 500 winner puts it, “And then they are going to tune in that weekend to see how the bracket’s doing.”

Read More: Kansas Victor Denny Hamlin Rubs It in the Face of Critics With a 6-Word Boast After Emphatic Redemption

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Written by:

Ayantika Maitra

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Ayantika Maitra is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. It was initially Formula 1 that made her fall in love with the world of motorsports. But quickly, the raw and unfiltered nature of NASCAR is what led her to build an affinity for the Stock Car Racing Series.
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Edited by:

Nischal Kandpal