“I Mean the Ba**s He Had”- Denny Hamlin Calls Out His Own 23XI Driver Taking Advantage of Him Amid Rain Struggles at Chicago

Despite being in the game for almost 18 years and having 49 wins across his illustrious Cup career, even veteran Joe Gibbs Racing veteran, Denny Hamlin felt like a fish out of water racing in the rain-soaked lanes of downtown Chicago. Following Grant Park 220, NASCAR’s inaugural street race, Hamlin opened up about the race and revealed how off he felt being on a narrow wet track with rain gods unleashing their fury.

Speaking on his popular Action Detrimental podcast after the highly anticipated race, the JGR driver also revealed how his 23XI Racing driver and road racing phenom, Tyler Reddick, outdid him.

Struggling for traction as the cars were merely holding on to the wet lanes, Hamlin shared how Reddick showed his tenacity to soldier on despite the overwhelming conditions to outshine him. The 42-year-old also revealed his fascinating conversation with the race winner, Shane Van Gisbergen.

Denny Hamlin Opens Up About Tyler Reddick Outpacing Him at Chicago

Even before the race happened, NASCAR drivers were very skeptical about the Street race and they had valid reasons for that. The tight and narrow lanes of downtown Chicago were a hard nut to crack for drivers, as the slightest of miscalculations could spill disaster for the whole pack.

What made things even more treacherous was the weather. The presence of a cyclonic depression near the city meant non-stop rain. With the track soaking wet, the drivers had no room for errors and veteran Hamlin expressed his skepticism even before the race, calling out the conditions unfavorable publically. But it became evident that NASCAR had no idea of pulling out at the last minute and the Cup Series race was scheduled to go as per plan.

Revealing his experience racing on a street course for the very first time that too in wet conditions, Hamlin recalled his 23XI Racing driver, Tyler Reddick, who is renowned for his road racing expertise, put the shame on him as he passed him seamlessly. “ I, of course, didn’t know what I was for, this was the blind leading the blind,” said the driver. 

The veteran then revealed his inexperience racing in such conditions, he said, “First of all I just found speed in the dry on-road corners, I have no idea what I’m doing in the wet which was super apparent on lap 3. I tried to look at anything I could to get me some sort of gauge of how far to go,” adding to the toll was his own driver’s trickery to pass him.

“I didn’t know how far to go, I thought I got a good enough launch off turn 1, I guess the or last turn coming into the restart to the start to get me a jump on Tyler and then he just, I mean the ba**s he had to driver in 600 feet deeper and just pass me on the outside in the first corner he’s clearly, was more comfortable than what I was,” recalled the 42-year-old. 

READ MORE: Alex Bowman Comments on Old Rival Denny Hamlin as NASCAR Asked to Suspend the Joe Gibbs Driver by Fans

Following this, the 23XI Racing co-owner shared his fascinating conversation with the Kiwi, SVG as they discussed the terrible weather before the race.

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“We Would Never Race in This”- Denny Hamlin Shares His Fascinating Conversation With Race Winner, SVG

Though Denny Hamlin was never a favorite in road courses or street courses, the veteran going into the Chicago race was pretty decent. Picking up the pole being the fastest, DH hoped he could make the most out of NASCAR’s first-ever street course, but the driver was let down quickly by the hostile weather.

With the rain gods unleashing their fury, Hamlin, talking on the podcast, shared his interaction with the New Zealander before the race. While the 3-time Supercars champ has invaluable experience racing on street courses. As per Hamlin Shane said, “We would never race in this.” With conditions so critical, he further stated his thoughts going into the race.

As NASCAR drivers are accustomed to racing in wet tires, the Kiwi felt intimidated by the weather. He said, “I don’t have any experience in these conditions.” 

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As Gisbergen quickly found his rhythm on the track, the Kiwi started to become more confident in his abilities. He went on to clinch the win whereas Hamlin just couldn’t make the most out of the opportunity as the best he could do was 11ith position.