In an episode of the Netflix docuseries, NASCAR: Full Speed, Denny Hamlin HAS addresses his struggle in managing the conflicting roles he plays within NASCAR. As a celebrated driver for Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 car and a co-owner of 23XI Racing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan, Hamlin finds himself caught between his competitive instincts and business commitments.
The story unfolds with Hamlin’s insights into this conflict, particularly during the latter part of the 2023 regular season. Both Ty Gibbs, his teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, and Bubba Wallace, his driver at 23XI Racing, were competing for playoff positions, bringing his allegiances to center stage. Hamlin explained:
“It’s the first time we’ve ever had a true conflict.
“But I just want to make it very clear where my allegiance lies and that could obviously rub people up the wrong way. But it’s the right thing to do if I’m to be a leader of the team that I own.”
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Bubba Wallace acknowledged the clarity brought to the situation, saying:
“Now we know where Denny stands on that.
“It’s a tough spot for him, being like, ‘Hey, I’m not helping out my team. I’m helping my team’.”
The dynamics of his dual roles are further complicated by the foundational support Joe Gibbs Racing provided to 23XI Racing. Hamlin explained during an interview with Kenny Wallace in 2024:
“I said, ‘Guys, I’m gonna ask y’all a very serious question: Is there any opportunity for me to own a piece of Joe Gibbs Racing? I’m very interested.’ And at the time, Joe’s getting up there in age and he’s like, ‘I don’t think so.’
“I was like, ‘I just wanna know for sure because I think I’m gonna make a move if there’s no place for me to have ownership here at JGR.
“I’d love to carry on the legacy that Joe Gibbs has shown me and how he runs his team, I want to make sure you guys are OK if I do this on my own then. And I said [to JGR], ‘But I’m gonna need your help.’
“We pay them a fee and a hefty fee every single year to gather all this information that those 400 employees put together,
“We have roughly 100 at 23XI. In order to have the infrastructure that JGR has, I would have to hire 200-300 more people. Toyota would have to give us a whole lot more money. And so instead of that, they’re happy with their agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“We’re forever grateful for that but it’s double fold. It helps my team be better, but also creates resources to make my 11 car faster.”
