Denny Hamlin Scoffs at NASCAR's Mid-Season Overhaul, But What's Behind the Change?

NASCAR's mid-season overhaul has given teams a significant boost in practice time, but Denny Hamlin isn't convinced it will make a difference.

What happened?

Starting at New Hampshire on August 22, practice sessions will be extended from 25 minutes to 50 minutes, with all cars on track together and two sets of tires. This change is a result of a push from mid-sized teams and those further back in the garage, who feel they need more time to make meaningful adjustments to their cars.

Why it matters for Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin, a top driver in the sport, was skeptical of the change when asked about it by journalist Jordan Bianchi. "Come on. You really think this is going to make that big of a difference?" he said. However, the real story behind the change is that it was largely driven by teams outside of the traditional powerhouse organizations like 23XI Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and Hendrick Motorsports.

What comes next?

The new rule allows for a longer practice session, giving teams more time to try out different adjustments and see how they work. This is a significant change for teams that have been struggling to close the gap with the top organizations. Paul Wolfe, the crew chief currently working with Joey Logano, is an example of someone who would genuinely know what to do with an extra 25 minutes of practice time.

The new rule also eliminates the split-group format, where teams would draw randomly for groups and sometimes run on a cooler track or a rubbered-up surface. Now, everyone will run together, which should give teams a more accurate picture of how their cars are performing.

However, there is one catch: cars still cannot go back to the garage during the session. Everything happens from pit road, where teams can make adjustments to tire pressures, spring rubbers, and other settings. This restriction was not an accident, as it prevents the richest teams from turning practice into a second shop day.

The change is a significant one for the sport, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out over the rest of the season. Will it give teams outside of the top organizations a chance to close the gap, or will it simply give the top teams more time to fine-tune their cars? Only time will tell.

The new rule takes effect starting at New Hampshire on August 22, and it will be interesting to see how teams adapt to the change. Will Denny Hamlin and his team be able to make the most of the extra practice time, or will they struggle to keep up with the top organizations?