Denny Hamlin seems like he's done driving to help his Toyota teammates. It appears that we will see a more selfish Hamlin back in play for this year's Daytona 500.
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Hamlin spoke during media day about his strategy leading into "The Great American Race."
"I think it's probably in my best interest to get back to the basics, and that's doing what I feel is best to win the race for myself."
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"I was just kind of torn on what exactly how working together is beneficial, and this, that and another," Hamlin said. "I think it's in my best interest in getting back to the basics, and that's doing what I feel is best to win the race for myself. While having teammates is great and are certainly assets to use in certain situations to win races, I think sometimes it's those who are the most selfish, that make moves for themselves, they are those who win the race."
Last year, the winner of the Daytona 500 was Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He drives for JTG Daugherty Racing, which is a single car team. Stenhouse is not out on the track looking to help any teammates. He can make moves that only benefit him, and those moves aren't being calculated for those around him. This is the mindset Hamlin is looking to have in this year's Daytona 500.
The three-time Daytona 500 champion is one of the best drivers at superspeedway racing. Over the past few years, Hamlin has followed his teammates even though he has felt that others have made better moves.
Moving forward, Hamlin is looking to make moves that are going to help the No.11 car move forward as opposed to going nowhere with his teammates.
"You want to help your teammates as much as you can as you'll need those allies throughout the race and certainly during it," Hamlin said. "But I feel, I need to personally go back to the style I had a few years ago and we'll see what those results say."
Hamlin did not win his three Daytona 500s by sitting in line letting his teammates dictate what he did. In 2016, he entered the final lap in 5th, behind four Toyotas. He jumped out of line and made it past all the Toyotas, including all of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, to win his first Harley J. Earl trophy. Then in 2019, Hamlin battled it out with teammate Kyle Busch for the win without letting Busch dictate what he did. In 2020, he benefited from Ryan Newman's big crash on the second overtime restart to clinch victory.
Hamlin is the only driver to deliver a Daytona 500 victory for Toyota, so there shouldn't be any issues with him doing what he thinks is best for himself and the No.11 car.
Hamlin will look to tie Cale Yarborough for second in all-time in career Daytona 500 victories on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. est.
