Denny Hamlin has put the metal down on Darlington’s downforce debate as the season heads to a track known for its close finishes and unforeseeable fortunes. To heighten the unpredictabilities, the 400-lap event’s title sponsor, Goodyear, has made another tiresome gamble to block out any aero advantages.

But familiar racing scenarios raise questions about the effectiveness of NASCAR’s numerous package changes. Despite the “NextGen” car’s latest ‘evolution’ aiming to improve racing, the recent results seem to contradict those adjustments. And Denny Hamlin’s pre-Darlington indifference summarizes the collective ‘dissatisfaction’ brought about by yet another trial run.

Denny Hamlin doubts new tires will change Darlington’s fate

Owing to The Lady in Black’s unique track conditions, a perfect package may very well remain indefinite. In previous outings, the 1.366-mile ‘oval’ has used both three-inch spoilers and its current four-inch counterparts of the 670-hp intermediates package. However, to determine the perfect tire falloff-to-exciting racing product ratio of the Gen 7 cars, in the Goodyear 400, teams will navigate a tire balancing act at Darlington. While the left side stays grounded with proven tire codes from last year, the right side ventures into uncharted territory with the D-5222 compound.

These newer right-side tires were also responsible for churning out NASCAR’s closest-ever finish at Kansas only a week ago. Nevertheless, Denny Hamlin doesn’t think it makes a “huge difference”; instead, he argues, “there’s something to be said about the intermediate package.”

In conversations with the media before Darlington, Denny Hamlin answers a question explaining how the new short-track package would make no difference in light of his inability to pass Erik Jones. He explained, “The short-track package doesn’t have enough positives to really warrant such a small spoiler on the back. I think I know why they did it, to try to get you know the cars to you know to have more downforce on the top side versus the bottom side of the car, but I just haven’t seen anything that really says that it’s better with one or the other.”

“So you know I’m indifferent on what package they run here but I think it’s good we’re running speeds where intermediates are probably the appropriate one for this track.” After putting in another strong qualifying run to roll off the grid at P7 on Sunday, Denny Hamlin’s assumptions may end up correct after the Goodyear 400. But with rampant use of air-blocking as the preferred measure of drivers maneuvering a “defensive car,” are aero advancements and tire research the necessary adjustments necessary for an inconsistent racing product?

Can the Lady in Black deliver a classic without dirty air?

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One of the loudest advocates for the increase in horsepower motion, Denny Hamlin has an exciting remedy for all the discussions on the overflow of Cup Series ‘parity’—more horsepower. After all, with a monotonous consistency, drivers have evidently mirror-driven their ways to victory more times than twice this season.

Although NASCAR has repeatedly shut down claims of any visible increase to even out the field further in recent times, a slight bump would only act as another one of the sanctioning body’s ‘experiments’ testing the waters of the next-best NextGen racing product.

Moreover, from Hamlin to future Spire Motorsports driver Michael McDowell, many do not see a drastic difference with Darlington’s determined changes for its 2024 NASCAR Cup Series debut. JGR’s Christopher Bell was reportedly even “perplexed” to learn of his two-tire situations at Darlington this Sunday, although the #20 driver admitted that the racetrack of the moment “fits the mold of a short track package than an intermediate.”

Regardless, fans hope that the intended changes cancel out the excessive air-blocking on display recently at tracks above a mile and-a-half. As Ryan Blaney explained, “It just doesn’t look good for our sport. It takes away from the racing side.” Especially at the track where Ricky Craven held the record for the narrowest margin of victory over Kurt Busch for the last two decades until last week.

The unpredictabilities of Darlington will unfurl for its latest ‘tamer’ on Sunday at 3:12 PM E.T.