Denny Hamlin Talks Ryan Newman Crash And Winning Daytona 500 | The Jim Rome Show

There's a lot to talk about and I want to talk about your opinion and the story you did last night, but everyone knows that Ryan Newman is in serious condition right now and is expected to survive due to his injuries. I know you didn't know about the severity of that accident when you first crossed the line and disconnected from the radio, what was your reaction when you heard about the accident? Yeah, well, you know we went out and I distanced myself on the grass, but it was long before I did anything, obviously, you know accidents happen all the time in the Daytona 500 and for many reasons in general, but you know that we didn't define the severity of it until later, so I'm definitely still thinking about Ryan and his entire family, so that's our main concern is still at this point Denny Hamlin my guest, you know what I was going to tell you as a driver, you know how dangerous which can be, especially on that track, so when you hear that he is expected to survive, what kind of thoughts and feelings do you have?

How does it feel to hear that? Yeah, it's great news, obviously, you know things are getting encouraging and that's good and we're happy that you know the whole security team, everything went well and he kind of hits, you know, worst case scenario. possible where they turn you upside down and then hit you right there on the roof, which is probably the most vulnerable point of the car, so we're very lucky and hopefully that will be the case. and a quick recovery Denny Hamlin joins us obviously life can be very complicated it's very dangerous this is happening and we know it and you certainly want to acknowledge it so it's good news that he will recover and these are not lives . threatening injuries now you become the first driver since 1995 to win back-to-back titles at Daytona what does it mean to hear that and make that history?

Yeah, I don't know, you know how to put it into perspective right now. I haven't had much time to take it in since it just happened yesterday, but I'm definitely looking forward to the moment where I'll sit back, look at the highlights, think, you know, it always gets you down. I know, think about the great accomplishments we had with Denny Hamlin joining us now that was the second greatest accomplishment in Daytona history behind your win over Martin Truex Jr in 2016, so what was going through your head on that last one? lap? Well, I mean, I was leaning toward the white flag and the problem with that, you'd think those were the places you wanted to be, but we were low enough toriel, there were seven horns that were right behind me and I knew they were going to join in group.

I got right back there, so they did it, they passed me and then, you know, I hooked up to Ryan Blaney's rear bumper and I knew my best chance was to push him into the lead and then let those guys fight, hopefully, I chose. put the pieces together and that's how it played out, you know, we're able to do a great lateral draft there, right on the line, kind of a slingshot that surpassed Denny Hamlin, who was three in a row in the last five years in In fact and Danny, I wonder if there was a moment in time and you raised the challenge in what I was facing yesterday.

Was there ever a moment in time when you thought it just wasn't meant to be today, wasn't going to happen or because you previously won such a close race there or did you believe you would find a way at the bottom? Well, I thought when I took my target I thought I had made a great shot, you know, ten seconds later, I'm on the home stretch, there, motor and at my side. I'm thinking this is no good, I'm going to win this, but he says I got hooked and turned three JooJoo Ryan Blaney, nice rear shock.

I think I'm going to send him somewhere, so we band together and push for the lead. And I just, you know, I barely had enough speed there right on the line to get Danny back-to-back titles for the first time in a long time, three in the last five years, as I mentioned, how do you explain the level of success? that you've had in this race, I can't, I mean, you know a lot of accidents happen in the Daytona 500, especially in the last six or seven years, and you know we just find ways to get to the end with a chance. to win and we've been in this position now for three or four years in a row, competing for the race win, we want three of them and it's been an incredible race, I can't really explain it to you.

I feel like I'm a student of the game and you know there's a lot of skill that goes into being a good super speed or tackle racer, they call it at Daytona and it's just something. While I've held on to Denny Hamlin joining us for a few moments longer, I also understand that I'm still taking it in, but when you point out that you're a student of the game, how much have you grown as a driver? The last few years, as you've been dominating at Daytona all the time, I mean, they really changed the role package this year from last year, it's a completely different aero package, you know, so you know drafting isn't just drafting.

Like you have to adapt. Your traffic style is based on how the car reacts, so I'm going to work on that. I learned a lot. I feel like I take a lot of good notes. It is equal to success. Until now you are a student of the game. Denny. What is going on with the weather? delay and postponement, how did you and the team approach that delay and postponement from Sunday to Monday? Well, I mean, it's a little difficult, but it's something you know you can't control, so it has to be ready at all times. we had the weather coming, we had the whole next day to prepare and stretch again, refocus around lunch time to be green again yesterday at four o'clock so it was a lot easier than restarting in the morning on my opinion because we had some time to prepare, but in general you know delays are just part of what we do, that's one of the two sports that when it rains and it puts things at all, yeah, I have to ask you because you're in this, it's probably hard to get perspective, but that wind gives you three and the only other guys with at least three wins at Daytona or Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Richard Petty, I mean, absolute.

The legends of the game have absorbed it, but now they are part of that group. No no. I still don't feel part of that group. I mean, you're calling out legends, you're calling out his father, George, I mean your. Hey, these guys are the best, oh, I feel like I'm like you know a strange name on that list, but I definitely don't think you took for granted everything that crew chief Chris told you before. the race started on Sunday, then 25 years had passed and someone had repeated it since then, in fact, he said he

talks

all the time about how you can make history, it's just up to the team to go out and do it, how much does that ability mean to make that story motivates you is that part of your approach is, I mean, you know my crew chief, Chris, did an incredible job keeping me motivated and putting the stats in front of him, saying you know, this is what we can do, let's go. to get it.

You know, let's go to work and do it, so you know, I can appreciate someone who sticks with me to keep that motivation, that's easy after 15 years of doing this to Duke, I'll hunt you down, take one foot off the gas, so to speak . but yeah, we've been flat out now and he's definitely the guy that keeps me going, so yesterday was the big win, today you're doing some media business and then you quickly have to change your mind and stop

winning

the 500 Daytona Miles. to focus on coming here, coming west and racing in Las Vegas on Sunday, have you thought about that yet and what kind of transition do you have to make?

Yeah, I mean, it's going to be a quick transition. I mean, yeah, I already have. oats in my mailbox like things I have to start studying for the race this weekend, so I mean the work never stops for us, it's no different than you know, being on an NFL team or any other type of baseball team, there's a game tomorrow and there's a game next week that you need to prepare for as soon as your events are over today, so we're going to enjoy it. I'll come home tonight, try to enjoy it with the family and try to relax a little and that's it. tomorrow I'm going to work