“At this point, there’s just absolutely no way that I would even… I don’t even think about a race car right now. I’m going to need some time on this.” This is Denny Hamlin’s current state. And why wouldn’t it be, considering the cinematic title loss he faced at Phoenix on Sunday, something he’s been chasing for over two decades.

While some blame his pit strategy, some blame the ‘coin flip’ scenario of the last-minute race chaos. Some go a step further, claiming that the fault lies in the system, the playoff format. Whatever it is, you can’t stop talking about the No. 11 right now. But according to Dale Jr, while all these elements already make up for a perfect movie script, there’s something Hamlin can do to choose his own climax.

Dale Jr on how Hamlin can end his movie

Junior first empathizes with Denny Hamin. He knows how it must feel. But he also knows it’s a temporary emotion that Hamlin must be experiencing, due to the magnitude of his loss. But he’s very confident in Hamlin’s potential from here onwards.

“He’ll come back and he’ll run good and they’ll win races next year. He’ll probably win another 6 races, he might not have to worry about with the format we’ll have next year he might be able to just go and get the points. I think if he were sitting here, he would tell us he feels more confident in whatever the format may be.”

With the talks about the playoff system being changing at its peak, especially with Hamlin’s Cup loss and Connor Zilisch’s Xfinity title loss, we can safely assume there’s definitely going to be some changes next year. Which is why Dale Jr says Hamlin need not worry. And Junior knows Hamlin. He knows the confidence the No. 11 driver has about his driving, and how well he knows himself.

About the format speculations, Junior said, “We’re assuming the format’s going to be 36 races or maybe a 10-race Playoff. It’s going to be one of those two.” Going back to the previous days is the fan sentiment right now, too. On a side note, Dale Jr also noted how the 3-3-4 format would the same as a 10-race one if the resets are taken away.

But realizing how Hamlin would also the current format to disappear from existence, Dale Jr then laid out an iconic plot for him:

“Imagine if Denny goes next year, like this is me trying to find that silver lining. Imagine if Denny, this is a chapter in his book, the one we just wrote. This is what f—ing movies are made of. He loses a championship with 40 seconds to go in the race, all he needed was 40 seconds of green flag racing to get that title that’s been so elusive. He follows that season up with a championship year, that could be pretty incredible. Days of Thunder 2 storyline right there.”

40 seconds were all that stood between Hamlin and the title, enough drama for a movie narrative. But this could just be the second act. The third act could be his redemption arc. Where Hamlin rises up from this, gets in the car, drives again, and this time, brings the title home. No script searching for Days of Thunder 2.

The first part, that released in 1990, was a major box office hit and is a cult movie today for NASCAR fans. In it, the protagonist, Cole Trickle, played by Tom Cruise, is a hotshot rookie finds his way to the top by dealing with rivalries within the team and outside.

Jeff Gordon, vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, has made his own efforts to push for the sequel. “I’ve absolutely talked to Tom about it because I want him to do the project, and we want to be a part of it if it were to happen.” The franchise will definitely have to choose either of the teams, as team Hendrick wouldn’t like their rival’s story to be focused upon under their partnership.

Nonetheless, Dale Jr’s suggestion is a good one. For the movie to happen, the reality needs to happen before. Because the other way around doesn’t seem feasible right now.

But while suggested a movie for the Hamlin’s Cup story, he had his own personal loss to address with his Xfinity heartbreak.

Junior shares a bitter solution for heartbreaks

If Denny Hamlin’s the talk of the Cup, Zilisch is for Xfinity. Though Hamlin’s loss has affected everyone more emotionally, considering his two decades of struggle, Zilisch’s title loss hurts more practically, if see it stat-wise. The 19-year-old rookie won a mammoth ten wins this year. He won races even while recovering from his injuries and overflowed in the top 5s and the top 10s department.

But still, on the day it mattered the most, he couldn’t do it. Jesse Love was the better driver. Dale Jr opened up about how you deal with a loss of this magnitude, how do you go back from it.

“What I can do is, again, like what we can do as a team, as an organization, is come into this shop. There were people here Sunday. We raced Saturday night. There were people at this shop on Sunday getting ready for next year.” He gave an example of his own team, how they returned to work the very next day, showing discipline over mood.

“How do you put it behind you? You get your ass back in the f—ing grinder and go again. And so, you know, been doing this stuff a long time, and the best recipe or remedy or medicine to getting your ass kicked is getting back in the ring. And that’s what we’re going to do.”

Junior’s message is clear. You get up and get back. There’s no easy way out. You simply do the job you’re supposed to, and there’s nothing extra or special that’s needed to cope up from it.