Whenever there is something new or a change in NASCAR, some drivers have plenty of opinions. One such driver who never holds back in sharing them is Denny Hamlin, and he had plenty to say on a new episode of his podcast.
On the recent episode of "Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin," Hamlin and guest William Byron had plenty to say about this weekend's inaugural Chicago Street Race. From plenty of unknowns to issues drivers will have, he covered it all. Hamlin also expects there to be plenty of carnage among drivers throughout the weekend.
Hamlin even made a prediction that could easily hold true. That prediction isn't even about the actual races on Saturday and Sunday either. He expects there to be plenty of practice wrecks.
What should we expect to see from the Chicago Street Race? @dennyhamlin and @WilliamByron share their thoughts going into the weekend. 👇
📺 WATCH HERE: https://t.co/kMxkZEcFL4 pic.twitter.com/xfbf1YyWFb
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) June 29, 2023
"I think that there'll be significant practice crashes," Hamlin said. "Certainly in the Xfinity Series. It is going to be, I don't know how much track time they're going to get, so you better be ready. Everyone have their—all the Xfinity Series drivers, have your helmet on. Be buckled down, ready to go when they drop the green, because who knows how much time you're going to get."
Hamlin has made plenty of bold predictions in the past. And with all of the unknowns surrounding this event, he might be right.
He and Byron weren't the only drivers who have made statements about how crazy this weekend could be.
NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott, has also echoed some skepticism about what could happen in Chicago. When asked by Fox's Bob Pockrass, he went so far as to question whether the Chicago Street Race will have the outcome NASCAR is looking for.
Chase Elliott on what would make the Chicago street course a successful event: pic.twitter.com/3f6KEQNlol
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 26, 2023
"I think it depends on which hat you are wearing, you know. If you are wearing a competitor's hat, for me, it's going up there and trying to put ourselves in a position to win," Elliott said. "From a fan's standpoint, you are tapping into a part of the country that has a lot of race fans, a lot of NASCAR fans. But into city limits, that a lot of those people might typically not come out."
That and what Hamlin said are just two of the biggest question marks around this weekend's racing in downtown Chicago.
Time will tell if Hamlin's prediction holds true. Nevertheless, expect the unexpected during Sunday's Grant Park 220.
