Digest

This segment of Axis Determinal begins with Denny Hamlin discussing NASCAR's recent purchase of another track, speculating on its potential use and the business implications. The conversation then shifts to the NCAA tournament, where Denny reveals his impressive bracket performance, having seven of the final eight teams still in contention. He attributes his success to the tournament's relatively predictable nature. The discussion then delves into the topic of win percentage in racing, with Denny comparing it to the PGA and highlighting the low percentage of wins even for top performers. He expresses his satisfaction with his current win rate, acknowledging the difficulty of winning consistently in NASCAR. The segment concludes with a lighthearted exchange between Denny and co-host Travis about their respective sports fandom, with Denny playfully teasing Travis's unwavering support for Ohio State University. Denny emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey and the thrill of winning, even if it's not every week.

Outlines

00:00:00

Getting Old Sucks

This Chapter begins with Denny Hamlin expressing his frustration with the aging process and how it affects his daily life, particularly his ability to put on his shoes. He shares his experience with inflammation and the various treatments he undergoes to manage it. He also discusses the challenges of balancing his racing career with his physical limitations and the need to prioritize recovery.

00:00:22

Post-Circuit of the Americas Race Recap

This Chapter delves into the post-Circuit of the Americas race weekend, starting with the Craftsman Truck Series race where Corey Heim emerged victorious, showcasing his impressive skills on various tracks. Connor Zilisch, despite a pole position start and an early turn one overshoot, demonstrated his potential and sparked a humorous Twitter exchange with Jesse Love. The episode then shifts to the Xfinity Series race, where Kyle Larson secured a win after a thrilling last-lap battle with Austin Hill and SVG. Denny recounts his experience watching the race with Audrey, Larson's daughter, and highlights the strategic decisions that led to Larson's victory.

00:20:50

Track Limits and Officiating

This Chapter focuses on the track limits controversy, particularly SVG's disqualification for exceeding track limits, and the different approaches to officiating in NASCAR and Supercars. Denny shares his conversation with SVG about the incident and the contrasting penalties in different series. He also discusses the importance of self-policing among drivers and the need for clear parameters in racing.

00:26:35

Denny's Road Course Struggles

This Chapter delves into Denny's own struggles on road courses, comparing his performance to younger drivers like Byron, Bell, and Gibbs, and attributing his difficulties to age and the increased emphasis on road course racing. He also discusses the importance of driver development programs and the strategies employed by teams like Trackhouse and Toyota.

00:58:49

Kyle Busch and Christopher Bell Incident

This Chapter analyzes the incident between Kyle Busch and Christopher Bell during the Cup Series race, where Busch expressed his frustration with Bell's driving. Denny provides his perspective on the incident, highlighting the potential for miscommunication and the importance of respecting each other's racing styles. He also discusses the importance of handling such situations professionally and the respect that Bell showed towards Busch.

01:07:48

Shout-outs and Looking Ahead to Richmond

This Chapter concludes the episode with shout-outs to Austin Greene for his performance in the Xfinity Series and a preview of the upcoming Richmond race. Denny expresses his excitement for the race and his hopes for a strong performance, given the Gibbs cars' historical success at Richmond. He also discusses the technical nature of the track and the importance of precision driving.

01:11:46

Comparing Chris Gabehart to Other Coaches

This Chapter delves into a discussion about Denny's crew chief, Chris Gabehart, and his leadership style. Denny compares Gabehart to Sean McVeigh, highlighting his calculated approach, accountability, and ability to have fun while working. He also discusses the presence of a Bill Belichick-like figure in NASCAR, identifying Chad Knaus as the closest equivalent.

01:14:37

Bubba Wallace and Denny's Battle at Coda

This Chapter focuses on the battle between Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace during the last lap of the Cup Series race at Coda. Denny recounts the intense exchange, highlighting the competitive spirit and the fine line between aggressive racing and causing a wreck. He also addresses Tyler Reddick's comments about Bubba's tendency to use Denny's ownership against him, providing his own perspective on the situation.

01:18:52

NASCAR's Track Acquisition and Bracket Talk

This Chapter begins with Denny discussing NASCAR's recent purchase of another track, speculating on its potential use and the business implications. The conversation then shifts to the NCAA tournament, where Denny reveals his impressive bracket performance, having seven of the final eight teams still in contention. He attributes his success to the tournament's relatively predictable nature.

01:21:41

Win Percentage and Sports Fandom

This Chapter delves into the topic of win percentage in racing, with Denny comparing it to the PGA and highlighting the low percentage of wins even for top performers. He expresses his satisfaction with his current win rate, acknowledging the difficulty of winning consistently in NASCAR. The segment concludes with a lighthearted exchange between Denny and co-host Travis about their respective sports fandom, with Denny playfully teasing Travis's unwavering support for Ohio State University. Denny emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey and the thrill of winning, even if it's not every week.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is Denny Hamlin's perspective on NASCAR's recent purchase of another track?

  Denny Hamlin expresses curiosity about NASCAR's purchase of another track, speculating on its potential use and the business implications. He wonders if it could be used for exhibition races or other events, but acknowledges the limited capacity of the track.

• How successful is Denny Hamlin's bracket in the NCAA tournament?

  Denny Hamlin is very successful in his NCAA tournament bracket, having seven of the final eight teams still in contention. He attributes his success to the tournament's relatively predictable nature.

• What is Denny Hamlin's perspective on win percentage in racing?

  Denny Hamlin compares win percentage in NASCAR to the PGA, highlighting the low percentage of wins even for top performers. He expresses satisfaction with his current win rate, acknowledging the difficulty of winning consistently in NASCAR.

• What is the lighthearted exchange between Denny Hamlin and co-host Travis about?

  Denny Hamlin playfully teases co-host Travis about his unwavering support for Ohio State University, highlighting Travis's passionate fandom. The exchange showcases the lighthearted banter and camaraderie between the two hosts.

Show Notes