Denny Hamlin: Drivers need a 'board' to advise NASCAR

  Denny Hamlin just might have a good idea here...and he's certainly bold to make the case (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
   

   By Mike Mulhern
   mikemulhern.net

   PHOENIX
   Denny Hamlin has become Mr. Outspoken the past few weeks, and his anger at Jeff Gordon for Gordon's Talladega politicking with NASCAR for that no-push-drafting rule hasn't let up.
    "Who's running this sport?" Hamlin has asked, taking a critical stance on NASCAR's acceding to Gordon's pre-race Talladega request.
    Now Hamlin is ratcheting things up, suggesting that the sport needed a drivers' "board," to make suggestions to NASCAR.
    "Yes I agree we should probably have a board, of six or seven guys, like Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson…and some of the guys who are going to be the future of the sport, like (rookie) Joey Logano," Hamlin said.
   "Yes, you need to pay attention to the guys who have been in the sport the past 15 years, who got us to this point, with the boom….but you also need to listen to the guys who are going to be the future of the sport over the next 15 years, and their opinions should be just as important."
    About Talladega, Hamlin says he's been listening fans' views and he finds himself in agreement on some of their criticisms about that event, which featured some two hours of single-file follow-the-leader running, which drivers said they did deliberately, just to get to the end of the race without wrecking.
   "Fans deserve to be heard," Hamlin says.
   "They weren't happy. You can try to brush it under the table, but they didn't like what happened at Talladega. And I was just agreeing with them.
   "A lot of people just agree with NASCAR so they won't get in trouble with NASCAR. But the truth is the truth.
   "Something has to be done (at Talladega). We don't know what's got to be done, but something does. And fans are speaking out, and I'm just agreeing with them.
   "It's just frustrating that Gordon has that much pull with NASCAR. We've all driven this car-of-tomorrow the same number of years.
   "I just wish everyone could have equal say-so, and not just somebody behind closed doors being able to change how things go.
    "Outside of the race track Jeff and I probably get along better than just about anyone, except maybe Tony Stewart. But he also wants to do what's right for his team. And he was saying (before the race) that his car didn't 'push' well. So he will ultimately lobby to NASCAR 'We don't need to push.'
   "But that was an advantage I felt I had that was taken away."
    Hamlin said he did follow the usual procedures and take advantage of NASCAR's 'open door' policy for drivers. But he said he got the distinct feeling that NASCAR simply didn't pay much attention.
   "I just wish NASCAR would ask my opinion every once in a while," Hamlin said.
   "You get the feeling walking in the room (to talk with NASCAR) that it's just 'Okay, what do you want to say?'"
   In looking at this from a more big-picture perspective, it has become clear over the past several weeks and months that Hamlin is taking a more prominent role as spokesman for Joe Gibbs' Racing. Of course with Kyle Busch being so temperamental at times, and with Logano being so new, it's obvious that Hamlin is, by default, the man at the heart of the operation. And lately Hamlin has stepped to the plate.
   Not only that, but Hamlin has been at times almost downright erudite.
   What's made the change?
   "I've always an opinion….but, aw, I don't know," Hamlin said. "It just bugged me, that whole Talladega thing. I thought it was NASCAR doing it on its own; but I learned that someone influenced them, it got on my nerves."
   But there is more here…even though Hamlin himself will only concede "Oh, I'm just opinionated at times."