Denny Hamlin says NASCAR moved Daytona “in the right direction” after package change

In the latest episode of ‘Actions Detrimental’ Hamlin explained how it allowed drivers to be more aggressive on overtakes.

Hamlin was among the drivers who helped lead the charge on the updated rules package. The new body had less horsepower and a smaller spoiler that cut drag.

The changes provided for an exciting race where drivers could get out of line and build a run on their own. In previous editions cars that went off course were often lost. "I could tell straight away the car had less grip. Of course. I think this time around handling was a bigger factor than we've had in years past.

“You saw those that wanted to make moves toward the front and be aggressive, they could,” Hamlin shared. “I think without question it was better visually from my seat. “I felt like if I wanted to make a push to the front, if I had the car handling, I could. I thought it was a step in the right direction and the fans need to know that this is all we could change in this amount of time,' he said.

Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 had different bubbles forming between the draft packs. Team Penske Fords built their own momentum and worked up the order, while RFK Racing drivers Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher formed a two-man team to make their own line in Stage 1.

Another standout driver was Chase Elliott, who took the lead after falling out of the draft. In the end a fuel strategy saw him restart at the back in overtime.

Denny Hamlin’s teammate blasts new Daytona package

Denny Hamlin’s teammate, Christopher Bell, had a slightly different opinion of the new rules package. “I was really disappointed, because I really bought into it. The No. 20 driver was frustrated by the fuel mileage racing that only seemed to get worse. I thought it was going to be a lot different & it didn't weigh out any different at all. All the cars were the same. "Very, very confusing, so yeah," he said via @PeterStratta on X

Bell ended up outside the top 15 and Hamlin just outside the top 10. Neither driver took any stage points either. Hamlin does enter the Chase as the No. 1 seed driver though and leads second-ranked Ryan Blaney by 25 points.

Bell the sixth seed is 50 points back. The JGR drivers now head to Darlington Raceway for the first round of the new Chase format. They’ll have 10 races of runway to collect points and win the Cup Series championship.