Hamlin welcomes NASCAR plans despite Richard | Sports News

Denny Hamlin voiced his assist for the addition of one other NASCAR race held at a avenue circuit — although motorsports legend Richard Petty doesn’t precisely appear thrilled by the concept.

Next month, the Cup Series will journey back to the streets of Chicago for the Grant Park 165, which Alex Bowman received final yr as soon as torrential downpours introduced a untimely finish to the occasion. Arby’s will now function the founding accomplice for the upcoming race after McDonald’s ended its partnership with NASCAR in January.

According to The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi, it doubtless received’t be long earlier than one other avenue race is added to the Cup Series calendar. NASCAR is reportedly finalizing a deal to host an occasion on a avenue circuit within the San Diego space as quickly as subsequent yr.

Hamlin, for one, is more than open to the prospect of as soon as again racing in Southern California. “I don’t hate it,” he stated on the newest episode of the ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast. “I certainly think that San Diego sounds like a place I’d like to go. I mean, sure, I guess.

“It looks like they’re actually in favor of avenue races out. So, in the event that they’re hellbent on it, San Diego looks like a vacation spot to do this.”

Not everybody is happy to see NASCAR enterprise out to more non-oval tracks, nevertheless. On the heels of the Viva Mexico 250 — during which Shane Van Gisbergen secured a dominant victory at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez despite feeling underneath the climate — Petty slammed the present playoff system and inclusion of highway programs within the Cup Series.

“The approach they received this factor fixed, the place in case you win, you are in,” he defined. “That can’t be right. You got somebody that’s 30th in points that’s going to make the playoffs. Hey man, what happened to the guy that 15th, or 16th, or 18th [that’s] been running good [and] finished good everywhere?

“You’re making a championship situation by winning a road course, which is not really NASCAR to begin with. From that standpoint, I think they’re going to have to jockey around and change some of this kind of stuff.”

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While Dale Earnhardt Jr. understood where Petty’s anger was coming from, the 50-year-old argued that the inclusion of road and street courses helps ensure that the Cup Series champion is truly the all-around best driver on the grid. “I agree with Richard Petty. NASCAR stock car racing is predominantly an oval-based series. Always has been,” he started.

“We have eliminated some ovals, we have eliminated some tracks, added some highway programs. I’m advantageous with that as a result of I do like the concept our drivers need to be great in any respect issues. If you are going to be a champion, you now must be nearly as good at a highway course as you’re at an oval. Back once I began driving, you did not. You may f—— suck on the highway course as long as you have been good in all places else.”