With wins at Daytona and Talladega, Denny Hamlin knows a thing or two about superspeedways, and he says Atlanta is the toughest. Combining an intermediate oval with a superspeedway-style race package creates a difficult NASCAR track.
On the latest episode of his podcast, Denny Hamlin talked about the Atlanta race and broke down how racing there compares to the other superspeedways. While the race itself was great, there were quite a few incidents and cautions.
It sure looks hard to race on. However, we saw three and four-wide racing many times in the Ambetter Health 400. According to Hamlin on Actions Detrimental it looks difficult because it is difficult. Even more than Daytona or Talladega.
“Certainly, this race is more difficult than a Daytona or Talladega,” Hamlin explained to his cohost Jared Allen. “I mentioned it prerace as well, is that this track at Atlanta, the runs are bigger. The actual draft and the superspeedway effect of the draft is more pronounced at Atlanta one hundred percent more than what it is at Talladega, and like fifty percent more it feels like, than Daytona.
“What I believe is because air just gets trapped in the facility, and the smaller it is the more the air just gets swirling and going, right? So, the runs at Talladega are not as big as they are at Daytona, and the runs at Daytona are not as big as they are at Atlanta. Because the track is narrower and the narrower the track, that air, that jetstream, it becomes more powerful. Where at Talladega, the thing is so wide the air just goes all over the place and it can escape easier.”
With three Daytona 500 wins, I think Denny Hamlin is qualified to speak on this. Atlanta, the new tough track in NASCAR?
Denny Hamlin odds to win at Las Vegas
Moving on from Atlanta and its peculiarities, Denny and the rest of the NASCAR national series are heading to Las Vegas. It is another triple header, and isn’t it so wonderful to have all of this NASCAR racing to start the season?
For Denny Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team, it is time to get to work. Everyone is saying the real season starts now with Daytona and Atlanta in the rearview.
The odds are pretty good for Hamlin to claim his first win of the season this weekend. He is listed at +850 odds according to FanDuel Sportsbook ahead of qualifying. At those odds Hamlin is tied with William Byron as the second favorite behind Kyle Larson (+400).
Hendrick Motorsports finished 1-2-3 last year in this race. Byron won the Spring race. Then, Larson won the playoff race. Could it be more Hendrick domination this weekend? Hamlin and others will try to end that streak, but it will be tough to do.
What are your expectations for Las Vegas? After such a thriller in Atlanta, can the South Point 400 live up to the hype?
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