Latest / Kenny Wallace Media / Denny Hamlin's Emotional Story About His Ailing Father | NASCAR Press Conference

Transcript

Denny Hamlin's Emotional Story About His Ailing Father | NASCAR Press Conference · Kenny Wallace Media

0:00
Danny, there's been some references made to your dad the
0:03
last few weeks and wanted to win it for him and dedicate stuff to
0:06
him. Can you care to elaborate on
0:10
what might be going on with him? Yeah, I, you know, just not, not
0:14
doing well, not feeling well. And just, you know, he's, you
0:18
know, he, he's the one that got me into racing and, you know,
0:24
took me to a racetrack when I was 5 and, you know, then made
0:29
all the sacrifices financially to keep me going.
0:36
He sold everything they had. And, you know, we almost lost
0:41
our house couple times and just try to keep it all going.
0:47
And so, you know, I'm just, I'm glad he was able to see 60 that
0:53
that was, you know, super important to me.
0:57
Is that where the emotion that we saw was coming from or was it
1:00
just getting the milestone 60 or the way this all happened, where
1:03
was the motion? Absolutely all of it.
1:06
I mean, I just I don't know if I could have scripted it better.
1:11
I, I just, I don't know, like a win at Talladega for 60.
1:16
I would still be awesome, but not not like this, not, you
1:21
know, in the in the fashion that that I had to do it in those
1:25
last 10 laps. And this race, I talked about it
1:30
before the weekend started, just how important this race was,
1:33
right. I thought this was the most
1:34
important and all of it. I, I just I, I, you know, my
1:44
friends all weekend. We're getting 60 this weekend
1:46
and I just, yeah, I mean, I guess we could, you know, so I
1:53
just, I don't know all of it, just putting all the factors.
1:57
I, I just can't imagine there's a win bigger for me than this
2:01
one. Just with all, you know, with
2:03
the family, with the significance of it, you know,
2:10
you know, now being back on top for most wins in the season,
2:16
punching the ticket to the four. It's just all of it all, you
2:19
know, the fashion in which the last 10 laps played out.
2:22
All the above is is why I think this means the most. 75.
2:34
We'll come to Zach next and then make our way around with
2:36
Jonathan, Bob and Holly. Zachsterniellonascar.com Denny
2:42
This race seemed like a real microcosm of your season to some
2:45
extent because you needed to unlock another level there and
2:47
those last late laps to to really work your way past Larson
2:51
and and then get by Briscoe. As a whole, it you look at the
2:56
last few years in this Next Gen. car, you've got three wins,
2:59
three wins, two wins. You're at six now this year
3:02
alone. What?
3:04
What do you feel like has clicked for you this year in
3:06
particular that wasn't clicking previously?
3:12
I don't know. I mean, you know, in every
3:14
offseason I I try to put focus on getting better in one or two
3:19
areas, you know, whatever the glaring thing is that that is
3:25
holding me back from winning more races.
3:27
I I try to focus on that, improving that, whatever that
3:32
is. And so I don't know, I, you
3:38
know, I think that this is as strong as JG Rs cars have been
3:41
in some time. I think that's a factor.
3:45
I think Toyota is doing a fantastic job with everything
3:51
may bring to the table. I think that it's just, you
3:53
know, the cars are as good and as fast as they've ever been.
3:57
I feels good and as fast as I've ever been.
3:59
I mean, I never would have imagined winning a poll at
4:01
Vegas. I mean, this is just not in my
4:04
wheelhouse of of trying to go out there and get fast for one
4:10
lap. I've never been a driver that's
4:12
been fast for one lap, but it I've noticed that it was
4:15
something that could improve my chances of winning week in, week
4:18
out was focused on getting better in that in that part of
4:23
of the racing. And so, yeah, I just, I don't
4:28
even know what your question is. I'm just rambling at this point.
4:30
But it's things are going well. And and, you know, Chris Gayle's
4:37
bringing obviously some different stuff to the table
4:39
too. I mentioned it with when we talk
4:41
about qualifying, I think Chris Cavehart loves to run good on
4:46
Sundays and he's willing to sacrifice Saturdays to do it.
4:49
And Chris Gayle is maybe a little bit more of a let's put
4:52
the whole weekend together. And, and so it, you know, I give
4:56
full credit to Chris Gaybhart for putting the team together.
5:02
He, he's really the one that kind of rejuvenated my career,
5:07
you know, 5 or 6 years ago and took me from a guy that didn't
5:11
win a race in 2018 to winning a lot and in the, in the next few
5:17
years. And, and obviously instilling in
5:19
me a work ethic and a, and a process that allows me to
5:24
prepare for each weekend. I mean, I finished, I finished
5:32
the drivers meeting and hauled ass back to the bus today
5:36
because I was like, there's one more thing I need to look at
5:39
that I just think I might have overlooked and maybe it was the
5:45
difference, maybe, maybe not. But I never want to leave any
5:50
stone unturned and I just, I'll never compromise knowing that
5:54
when I get in, I I've done everything that I have to do to
5:57
go win. We rarely see you so emotional,
6:00
and you've talked about the significance of this milestone
6:03
for a long time now, so I don't think that part is surprising.
6:05
But did the moment meet the the hope or the expectation of
6:09
actually achieving that goal? Yes, no doubt.
6:13
I mean, I, I mean, what you saw, I mean that that was going on
6:18
for the last three laps. I mean, they're, I, I, I did say
6:26
a prayer in the three with two to go for no caution.
6:29
I, I try not to ask for prayers for things that really don't
6:32
matter, like competition, you know, but it was just, I needed
6:40
to see this one through all the way.
6:42
And so I'm barred ask for a favour on this one.
6:47
Come to Jonathan next. Jonathan Field, the raising
6:50
experts you touched on a little bit, but kind of just walk us
6:54
through those final laps and. What you were thinking?
6:58
I didn't. I need to see it.
7:00
I, I, I have not seen it. I, I don't remember a whole lot
7:05
about it. This reminds me a ton of the my
7:08
2016 Daytona 500 where I didn't do a whole lot of like, I, I, I
7:15
had to go back and watch it to figure out what did I do?
7:20
This was very, very similar. And so I just knew that I needed
7:25
to make speed. I needed to position myself.
7:32
You know, I, I thought there was going to be a monumental task
7:35
getting by Larson on the same tires.
7:37
I hadn't been faster than him in the short run all day, but I
7:42
just went for it. And you know, if I wrecked, I
7:47
wrecked. But it I just, you never know
7:49
when these opportunities will come up again.
7:52
But I just, I made speed. I found a way to make speed when
7:56
I needed to and it's super gratifying.
8:00
Also, I know you've been one for big.
8:02
Burnouts, but. That today it was pretty
8:04
spectacular, especially going to Victor Lane as well.
8:07
Yeah, I and there was hardly anything left on the tires.
8:12
And so once I got into Victory Lane, I just yeah, I I want to
8:16
enjoy this one. I want to.
8:18
I certainly want to celebrate it because it I just know how much
8:23
work it took to get it. We'll come to Bob next and then
8:27
Holly. Bob Parker's Fox.
8:32
Sports, I know it's a good thing from a competition and car
8:35
preparation, but is it a good thing that you have three weeks
8:39
now to stress out about about Phoenix instead of just. 1.
8:43
Yeah, I mean, though, I, you know, truthfully, I don't get
8:48
nervous anymore, but I will. At some point it will kick in
8:52
where it's like, is this my last chance, right, to do it?
9:00
Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But I just know that I'm going
9:03
to do it, do the work, and I just, I hope it works out.
9:10
If it doesn't, I'm going to be OK with it.
9:13
I've had a season that far exceeded what I thought it
9:17
would. But yeah, I mean, it will.
9:22
It'll set in. I'll get nervous certainly over
9:25
the next few weeks about it, but I'm going to be nervous about
9:30
the things that I control. Not, not the other things.
9:35
You just, you know, I've, you guys have seen it.
9:38
There's been weird and crazy things that have kept me from
9:43
winning a title or, or advancing to have a chance to.
9:47
And, and I've said many times, like you just if you get enough
9:50
chances, like eventually just the tides will turn and it's
9:55
like, did they start turning today maybe?
10:01
Go ahead, Holly. Congratulations on your win.
10:04
And my question is kind of that glass half full that you just
10:07
mentioned and that is getting the victory here where you
10:11
didn't necessarily see it coming, you know, starting on
10:14
pole or you wouldn't have necessarily guessed.
10:16
What kind of confidence does that actually give you going
10:19
forward to finish out, you know, not only this round, but maybe
10:23
give you a kind of confidence that you didn't necessarily have
10:26
before? I mean, I think instinctively we
10:30
all question our ability at times they're even the greatest
10:36
drivers will always have a moment where they question their
10:39
ability. But it's days like today that
10:45
are like huge confidence boost and like that you can still do
10:50
it at a really, really, really high level.
10:54
So it just, it affirms that. And yeah, it's it just, it's a
11:02
chest out moment that that just you get, you know, it's, it's,
11:06
it's hitting a game winner and, and, and basketball, right?
11:09
I mean, the spotlight was on you.
11:12
It was your race to win and you did it.
11:15
And so it's they gave me the ball at the end and I was able
11:18
to make it. We'll come to Jerry in the
11:21
middle, then Dustin. First off, the am I sure Jordan
11:27
kicking thestars.net? Do you do you think the seven
11:29
hours of some played a part in the closing laps there?
11:34
I'm not really sure, you know, who knows?
11:38
I mean, I certainly know that one of the things that I ran
11:45
back and looked at right before I got called into intros was
11:50
something that played out at the end of that race.
11:52
So maybe maybe that was it May, I don't know.
11:55
I know the car was fast. I know that we, me and Chris
11:58
really talked about, you know, track trends and that we talked
12:01
about all the variables that change from Saturday to Sunday.
12:06
We prepared for that. We prepared for the end of the
12:08
race today and, and we got through all the other stuff to
12:12
get to that point. And so when that opportunity
12:15
came up and I was able to restart, you know, third, second
12:19
or third on, on those 4 tires, that's, that's what we had
12:25
worked for. That's what we had prepared for
12:27
is that moment. And it it just the car was the
12:31
best at that moment. And to follow up on one of the
12:35
other questions from earlier, have you spoken with your dad
12:38
yet? And if you did, If you did, what
12:40
do you have to say? I haven't.
12:42
No, I, I, I saw that, that he, he text me, but you know,
12:47
that'll be a longer I, you know, I'll see him versus that.
12:51
But yeah, that's more of a long extended conversation.
12:55
And but when I see him this week, I'll we'll sit down and
12:59
reminisce. Go ahead, Dustin.
13:02
Dustin Long, NBC Sports Denny, obviously fathers and sons have
13:07
had such a significant role in this sport through the years.
13:11
And you know, with what you're sharing your story about your
13:14
dad and all the things that he did with your racing.
13:17
But also Joe was in here earlier talking about how his son had
13:22
played an important role in in your career with JD.
13:25
And Joe talking about the greatest sporting event that
13:28
he's ever experienced was when you won that 2016 Daytona 500.
13:32
So in with with all that, what does it mean for a son to be
13:40
able to have his dad see him back in a championship race and
13:44
to be able to to keep the spirit of JD alive because of JD's
13:50
influence and importance in your life.
13:52
And what that means for Joe to take that 11 car back to the
13:57
championship race. Yeah, I mean, listen, I, I never
14:02
could imagine like going through what Joe has has gone through.
14:10
Yeah. I mean, fathers, fathers are not
14:14
supposed to bury sons, you know, if that's kind of the the wrong,
14:18
wrong way. But you know, one thing that you
14:24
know, my dad, you know, said to JD a long time ago, it's that
14:32
you know, he's, he's yours, he's yours now.
14:35
You know, you know, you, you have to be, you know, you're,
14:41
you're responsible for, you know, I, I got him to this
14:43
point, but you know, look after him and, you know, and, and JD
14:50
was my, my Rd. dad, my track dad.
14:59
And then, you know, when JD passed it, it, it's more of Joe
15:03
now. You know, I think that father
15:06
figures are really, really important to make sure you do
15:10
the right things. They're the ones that kind of
15:12
keep you in the lane of life. You know, they are your bumpers,
15:16
you know, and, and I know that, you know, I, I do outlandish
15:20
things and say outlandish things at times, but I always know that
15:25
eventually I have to answer to the higher power.
15:28
And then on earth here it's Joe. And so I, I always, I appreciate
15:36
that he lets me be me. For one.
15:41
He never asked me to change and probably should at times.
15:47
But you know, I see him as family if the relationship and
15:53
the bond is, is really, really close.
15:56
And so I just, I'm very, very grateful for what his family has
16:03
done for me. I mean, they allowed me to start
16:07
a race team. I mean, everything I've got I, I
16:10
owe to the Gibbs family. And you know, I've got 2 dads,
16:20
11's at home and one's here. And so I think it's, I'm very,
16:27
very grateful for that because, you know, not a lot of drivers
16:31
have that kind of relationship with, with their, with their
16:34
team owner. But these guys are the ones that
16:38
found me and took a chance. And so my loyalty to them runs
16:44
very, very deep. And his loyalty to me has, has
16:48
done, you know, made me feel that way.
16:50
So it's, it's fantastic that I was able to, you know, Joe was
16:56
here and Dad's at home watching and so I certainly love making
17:01
both of them proud. And certainly want to respect
17:11
your privacy, but when you have that conversation with your
17:14
father later, they'll be more in depth.
17:16
What is something that you want to tell him about today?
17:20
Just thank him, you know, I, you know, for sacrificing really his
17:25
and my mom's life, you know, to, to chase around my dreams.
17:33
You know, they're not my parents had no money.
17:37
We we, my, my parents had very normal, normal jobs.
17:42
And but they found a way now that way is, is, is a path I
17:47
would never recommend anybody taking.
17:50
You know, it's every credit card that comes to the mail.
17:52
OK, we'll, we'll use it, you know, asking people to help and,
17:59
you know, second and third mortgage in the house and just
18:03
all these things. I mean, the, the, the, the
18:07
arguments I had to listen to, you know, I'm in my room.
18:10
My mom and dad are just going at it, one saying I can't do it
18:14
anymore, the other saying please just one more week.
18:19
It's great that it's all paid off and and certainly they're
18:24
got the life now that they deserve before I decide to do
18:27
this. I know I have a couple questions
18:31
around the room, so we'll do our best to get to everyone.
18:33
We're going to come to the middle here and then over to Lee
18:36
and then to Tom. Mitchell.
18:40
Brewer, Blackout. Sports, Denny, This win ties you
18:43
with somebody that you competed with a lot throughout your
18:45
career, Kevin Harvick. Just curious what your thoughts
18:48
are on that and what it means to be tied with him now.
18:52
Yeah, I mean, Kevin's just one of the best.
18:55
I have a huge amount of respect for Kevin.
19:00
Just one of the toughest competitors to beat.
19:06
I mean, I felt like him and Jimmy are like one in one a of
19:10
like the toughest guys that I had to compete with and against.
19:15
And you know, I'm super humbled by it.
19:20
I I think that, you know, Kevin Harvick's probably wildly more
19:23
talented than what I am, but I just I never would have imagined
19:31
that. Certainly I get to this point or
19:34
position in my career, you know, to to be in the names that I'm
19:41
around now on that list is is just it's wild to me and you
19:48
know, I shouldn't. I didn't see anything.
19:50
All I just kind of did was scroll through my phone to see
19:53
the names, you know, and I've even Martin Truex.
19:56
I've never heard from Martin Truex.
19:58
And it's like, you know, he must yeah, I think they're saying he
20:02
must have tuned in for law and order and just happened the race
20:04
happened to be on. That's Tyler's quote, by the
20:08
way. Yeah, But you know, it's a Kevin
20:15
was one of them, you know that I saw that that it reached out.
20:18
And so, yeah, I it's awesome to to be on the names of the list
20:26
and and certainly tie Kevin because I think that.
20:30
You know, he's he's one of the sport's greatest and I got to
20:34
compete against him. I was very grateful to be able
20:36
to compete against, you know, some of the sport's best
20:39
drivers. We got to Reid and then Lee.
20:44
Reid Spencer with the NASCAR wire.
20:46
Denny, since you brought it up. What was the one thing that you
20:49
thought? You might have overlooked had
20:51
you overlooked it, and do you think it made a difference?
20:55
I can't say, but I always I just have a mental checklist that I
21:01
go through before I leave the bus for the drivers meeting.
21:08
I just, I have AI have a mental checklist of checking all the
21:12
things that I think is going to be important today.
21:15
And one small thing just kind of slipped through the cracks.
21:19
Maybe I was distracted, maybe I don't really know, but I just,
21:24
I, I was so antsy during the driver's meetings thinking I got
21:29
to get out of here. I got to get out of here because
21:31
I got to go back to the bus and I got to look at something and I
21:36
just, I didn't want I, I don't know, it would have just, I
21:40
don't think I could have, it would have mentally bothered me
21:43
the entire race had I not gone back and looked because I just
21:48
then I would have said, well, how'd you let that slip?
21:51
You know, how, how were you not prepared for this?
21:54
You know, had you known this, then you would have been in a
21:57
better position to win. So it's a it's just a weird way
22:03
that my my brain works. Go ahead, Lee.
22:07
You're sexting me. Ask are you on catchfence.com?
22:09
Forgive me if this was asked why I was out of the room, but when
22:13
the season started, you seemed to be apprehensive about Chris
22:17
Gayle coming on board. You told us that you really had
22:20
no discussion, which is kind of mind blowing.
22:22
Giving your seniority with the organization, what have you.
22:26
Looking back on that now you know what what?
22:31
How have you? How has your mind changed from
22:33
January to now? Well, I mean, I, I was, I was
22:38
worried. I mean, Chris Gayle's resume was
22:42
not mind blowing by any stretch of the imagination, but he also
22:48
had a lot of young guys that he had to work with.
22:51
And, and at the time, I mean, Joe gave me essentially 24 hours
22:58
to say yes or no to it. And, you know, because Chris had
23:04
another opportunity with another team and, and cup and that was
23:07
his option and had an offer and he didn't want to get drug
23:12
around. And so I just, I told Joe
23:16
essentially, you know, do whatever you think is best.
23:19
You know, I, I trusted you in the past when we've made these
23:23
kind of decisions, I'll, I'll trust you again.
23:25
And I was worried and, and, and I, you know, when I had those
23:31
interviews that I talked about him in my, in my apprehension,
23:36
you know, one of the first conversations I had with him, I
23:38
said, I don't want you to take that personally.
23:40
But you know, I, this, this caught me off guard And I just,
23:43
I didn't know I was going to be in this position, you know, just
23:47
a week ago. But I really appreciate his
23:51
leadership. He pushes me as hard as Gabe
23:56
Hart did. I, I've made it very, very clear
24:00
to him that regardless of, you know, my accolades or his, you
24:07
know, he is the leader and I will respect whatever he tells
24:12
me to do. I think that's very, very
24:14
important as drivers to give the reins to your leader, which is
24:18
your crew chief and comp director, whoever it might be.
24:22
No one driver is bigger than the team that they drive for or the,
24:27
or the, or the person that leads their team.
24:30
So I wanted to make it very clear to him that, you know, he
24:33
has my respect, he has my confidence and that do what you
24:40
see is fit. If you know, do not be afraid to
24:42
tell me when you think that I need to be fixing something or
24:47
doing something. And and because it I I can
24:50
understand why it would be intimidating for someone hot
24:53
like him that you know what I mean.
24:55
Gabe hard to had a lot of success and he probably, you
25:01
know, was nervous whether he was going to get the same out of me
25:04
that that those guys did. But I can confidently say that,
25:08
you know, Gibbs made the the right decision in choosing him,
25:12
giving him, you know, the opportunity with me.
25:15
And I think it's been a very good mix of of, you know, kind
25:20
of our thoughts. And that's why I think we've
25:22
gotten better as a team as a whole is, you know, it's
25:27
sometimes a fresh new perspective and ideas can can
25:31
teach you something. I think he has.
25:35
We'll take our final couple of questions around the room.
25:37
We'll start with Tom and then we'll head to Jenna Kelly and
25:40
then over in the back and Zach. Denny hi Tom Zaleski, Arancon
25:46
here today. I had noticed when coach was in
25:49
here, he mentioned that AMPM is on the car for only the second
25:52
time this season and he was having trying to have
25:55
conversations with them in the winner's circle.
25:58
Did you participate in those conversations and what's what?
26:02
This is the first time I've seen you in the in this gear, but
26:05
what's the relationship been like with them so far?
26:07
Yeah, I mean, we had, we obviously had a big void to fill
26:12
to start the season. I mean, I don't know how many.
26:17
I was unsponsored for the bulk of the season.
26:20
I know that I I think we had this conversation at Bowman.
26:22
Gray had the hauler, had no stickers on it.
26:25
Like, you know, FedEx had had left and, you know, they were
26:30
trying to figure out what they were going to do.
26:31
And so JGR has done a really good job filling up the
26:36
schedule. Next year looks really, really
26:39
good. And, you know, yeah, it's they
26:42
had these conversations. And I think it's Sonoma was the
26:45
first race that I had with them. I'm glad they paired it with Las
26:50
Vegas. Hate for that to be the one
26:52
sample size that you get from me.
26:54
I tell all my sponsors sponsor as many races as you can because
26:58
I need, I need a big sample size.
27:00
If you, if you pick and choose like 3 races like it's, it's
27:04
kind of Russian roulette on, on whether you're going to get, you
27:08
know, your value in it. But whenever we have a new
27:12
sponsor, we we make sure that we get their logo upfront and that
27:16
certainly is been a good return on value for them.
27:20
Come to Jenna. Hey, I asked Joe and Chris this
27:26
question as well, so don't think it's simply directed at you.
27:30
You've had a little bit of an interesting month.
27:33
You've got some things going on, a lawsuit, New Hampshire, the
27:39
races at Kansas City and Charlotte changed the
27:42
participants in the field. How do you compartmentalize all
27:47
that and do your job and just keep showing up and not let any
27:52
of the noise sidetrack you? I mean, yeah, the cliche thing
27:58
that I've said, it's just thriving in chaos.
28:00
But I, you know, that the record would show it.
28:03
There's there's there's absolutely a correlation to the
28:07
more stuff that goes on, the more that you're going to get
28:10
out of me in those moments. And so it's really, really hard
28:16
to do. I mean, you know, this, I I know
28:19
this week coming up alone there is everyday is jam stacked and
28:24
packed with stuff and I'm really glad now I don't have to worry
28:29
about concentrating on racing next weekend.
28:33
I asked before the race. I I forget gave Hart came to the
28:36
car and he's like, you know, just win this one.
28:39
We'll we'll let you take next week off.
28:42
I was like, wait, I don't have to, I don't have to show up.
28:45
Like he's like, no, no, you're going to have to show up.
28:47
But we'll, we'll pardon you for all your work that you got to
28:52
do. And I was like, OK, so it's a
28:55
good thing because I got a lot, a lot of stuff that's going on
28:58
this week that I I'm glad. I'm going to take a mental break
29:04
from racing for a little bit. That's right.
29:10
Come to Kelly. Denny, I'm just curious, do you
29:20
think today is the most emotional or at least visibly
29:24
emotional you've ever been in your career?
29:26
I mean, I I don't recall ever seeing tears from you before and
29:29
getting choked up trying to do the TV interview.
29:32
Yeah, yeah, I, I think so because it's just this has been,
29:38
you know, building for, for quite some time.
29:41
You know, when I moved the, the bar from 50 to 60, you know, it,
29:49
I had to Stew on that for a few years.
29:51
You know, when I won the Daytona 500, you know, I, I'd always
29:56
hoped to win the Daytona 500. There's a letter that I wrote
30:00
when I was 8 years old that's in my garage that my mom kept that
30:05
says I my goal, my wish is to win the Daytona 500.
30:10
I hope that this comes true on February 18th, 1998.
30:13
I thought when I was 18 years old I was going to be in cup for
30:16
some reason, but there's something about manifesting
30:20
because I've won it twice on February 18th, the Daytona 500.
30:26
And so I don't know, some things are kind of meant to be.
30:28
And so while in the IT, it that took 30 years to happen, it
30:37
still wasn't the, that was just one race and there were no other
30:44
implications to it, right? And the reason this one is more
30:48
is because of all the things, right?
30:50
I got the home things, you know, we got the lawsuit things.
30:57
We've got just the final four, the 60.
31:02
It's just there's just so many other factors that played into
31:06
today, which is why I think that it's my biggest win, certainly
31:11
one that I was absolutely the most excited about.
31:15
OK, so along those same lines, you cross the finish line and
31:18
the in car camera shows that you were already getting tearful.
31:20
We've seen drivers come back around by the time they get to
31:23
the TV interview and they start to suppress that or they don't
31:26
want to show that. Was it just too hard for you to
31:28
do or were you going to embrace? This is how I feel.
31:31
I don't care if I'm going to cry on national television.
31:34
Yeah, I don't know. I'm I'm, I'm probably softer
31:38
than what I put shut off, you know, I, I, I maybe shut his
31:45
tear during a love story on movie or something.
31:48
You know, if it's really it's a really emotional moment, you
31:51
know, I'll never let my kids see it that I'm I'm but but I do
31:56
have feelings. I know it's hard to believe.
32:01
No, maybe. But no, no, I just, I don't
32:12
know. I just, I just know how hard it,
32:18
how much work it took to for this to happen.
32:21
It didn't just happen. It wasn't just luck.
32:26
It, it just was so gratifying because of all the things I
32:30
talked about. And then I had the ball at the
32:34
very end and made it like that's just, I can't tell you because I
32:40
don't know, you know, maybe I'll play recreational sports as a
32:43
kid and you had that game-winning moment, but it's
32:46
just like, it's just so big for me personally because this is
32:49
what I do and this is what I'm paid to do.
32:52
And so it's yeah, I don't, I don't know.
32:57
I'm it'll take a few days for it all to sink in, but it's I
33:03
couldn't. I knew there was no chance.
33:06
I was holding it back. No chance.
33:07
Just let it go. We'll take our final two
33:10
questions from the back and Zach.
33:16
Noah Reed West Coast Sports News Denny, It feels like this
33:19
weekend was kind of just the the perfect storm to go 11th on
33:23
poles, 10th and wins and then to become the first Vegas winner to
33:26
start from the pole position. But you've also talked about,
33:30
you know, wanting to be involved with this sport well past your
33:32
driving days, obviously with 2311.
33:35
So I'm curious when you look at this weekend 1520 years down the
33:40
line, what's going to be the most important part and and most
33:44
memorable from your perspective? I'm not sure.
33:51
I, yeah, I don't know where, you know, hopefully 1520 years from
33:56
now, I'm coming in before my driver wins, you know, a
34:01
significant race. You know, I'm, I'm the Joe of,
34:05
of the organization, you know, that's, that would be the goal,
34:10
right? Is to, you know, I, I knew I
34:15
wanted to be involved with sport well beyond my driving days and
34:19
obviously took a lot of faith from a lot of people to to make
34:23
that happen. And yeah, this is I, I love
34:28
living in the moment right now of, you know, my
34:32
accomplishments. But you know, there will be a
34:34
day when I'm just as happy and proud of, you know, what I built
34:39
over there at 2311 as well. So I hope that I hope I can
34:46
remember how I feel in this moment 15 years from now.
34:50
That's what I hope. We'll rap with Zach.
34:56
You said earlier that when you were talking about your
34:59
relationship with GAIL, that no one, no one driver is bigger
35:02
than the team that they drive for.
35:03
Is that something that you feel like you had to learn at some
35:05
point or is that a mindset that you've had throughout your
35:07
entire career because you've worked with a lot of different
35:10
crew chiefs at this point? Is that something that that you
35:14
had to learn or was that something that you've always
35:16
had? No, I I definitely had to learn
35:17
it for sure. I think I got to give credit to
35:20
Chris Gabehart for instilling that mindset for me.
35:25
And, and what he would always say is that, you know, if I
35:28
asked Denny to drive backwards for six laps during practice, he
35:34
would just say, OK, you wouldn't ask questions.
35:37
He wouldn't. He would just go do it.
35:40
And, and it's because of the, you know, that relationship that
35:44
I had with him, that it was a full trust and that I trust that
35:48
he has the team's best interests and my best interests at at
35:52
heart. And, and I realized also that
35:57
when I broke my back in 2013, those races that I had to sit
36:01
out and watch from the pit box, I realized pretty quickly that
36:06
those guys have a lot more information at their fingertips
36:08
than what I do inside that car. And, and at that point too, I
36:12
started to understand that, you know, let let everyone just do
36:16
their jobs. And I just focus on doing the
36:19
best I can at my part. And I'll be a whole lot
36:23
successful, a whole lot more successful if I if I work that
36:27
way. And so, yeah, that's why I think
36:31
it was really important to make sure GAIL knew that he was my
36:35
leader from this point forward. And, and I think that there's
36:41
something to be said about that because now you've been, you've
36:44
been bolding him, you've given him the confidence that I can do
36:48
this. He trusts me that I'm going to
36:50
make the right call, right play, and that he knows that I can
36:56
provide him what he needs to to go in.
36:59
And then you it, it just snowballs after that because now
37:03
he'll have success long after me because of what he learned in
37:07
our relationship. So yeah, I just, I really want
37:12
to make everyone around me better because they all make me
37:15
quite a bit better.