NASCAR’s viewership has surged past the combined viewership of Formula 1 and Indycar, marking a comeback to its days of glory. For a while, NASCAR faced a slump, attributed to several changes like the switch from gen ‘6’ to next-gen cars, dialing back speed and horsepower, and restricting car modifications. It shifted the focus from pure speed to strategy around tires and pit stops, dialing down the excitement for some fans.

However, last year sparked a revival in NASCAR’s popularity, thanks in part to the Netflix hit “NASCAR: Full Speed” and Chase Elliott‘s much-anticipated return to the track. Above all, Denny Hamlin has been instrumental in this resurgence, whether it’s through his engaging podcasts or his contributions to “Full Speed,” playing a pivotal role in drawing fans back to NASCAR.

The ‘rule of thumb’ that made Denny Hamlin Netflix’s go-to driver

When asked how he ended up opening the Netflix series and if it was his idea, Hamlin was straight up, saying, “It was!” He went on to explain how his involvement stemmed from early talks with both NASCAR and Netflix. He realized the huge impact this project could have on NASCAR.

Hamlin’s mindset is all about contributing back to the sport he loves, whether it’s through his podcast, owning a race team, or other ventures. He’s all in on pushing NASCAR forward, as he exclaimed, “I consider it an obligation to give back to the sport. Now I’m doing it in several different ways, whether it be through content with the podcast or owning a race team. I’ve invested back into the sport heavily.” So, his guiding principle with the Netflix crew was pretty clear: “And so my rule of thumb for Netflix when they decide to follow me, is that the answer is always yes until I say no.”

Denny Hamlin shared that the Netflix crew tagged along for way more than just the ups and downs, his family life, and his connection with Joe Gibbs and 23XI Racing. A bunch of it didn’t hit the screen, but he’s cool with how they showed everyone as they truly are. He really wanted to chip in because he’s got this unique view from behind the wheel and from the boss’s chair, and he figured it’d shine a light on what NASCAR’s really about.

But apparently, it might not just be the show that has caused so much viewership all at once. As mentioned earlier, it could most likely be just the mere presence of Chase Elliott. And even Denny Hamlin agrees with the fact that the #9 driver is extremely crucial to NASCAR, acknowledging Elliott’s big impact on the sport.

#11 chooses Chase Elliott as his alternative to opening up the show if given a choice

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After Elliott sat out a bunch of races last year due to his injury and one race suspension, NASCAR felt the pinch, with viewers dipping. But now, Elliott’s back in action, and while he’s not tearing up the track with wins, fans are thrilled to see NASCAR’s favorite son back behind the wheel.

Hamlin’s totally on board with how much Elliott means to NASCAR. In a chat with Kevin Harvick, Hamlin didn’t hesitate to name Elliott as his top pick for a Netflix lead. Why?

“Chase Elliot is a very important person in our sport. I think he knows it, but I don’t think he understands how big H’s influence is on our sport. That is someone that is focused on their career and doing the best they can for their team. But There’s a show to it. There, there’s a, there’s a sense of entertainment that has to go with this for us. There is to have these personalities.”

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He further asserted that the reason behind his choosing Elliott is that NASCAR as a sport wants to show people how great Chase Elliot is at his craft. And for Hamlin, giving fans an inside look at Elliott is key to showing off the heart and soul of NASCAR.