Can they make it in a different era? It's an argument as old as time when it comes to athletes. Usually, it comes at a detraction to their body of work. Could LeBron James survive in the 90's NBA? Would Jordan adapt to basketball with an emphasis on three pointers? Oftentimes, it can be a fun, theoretical exercise, other times, it's just needless contrarianism. One of NASCAR's biggest drivers Denny Hamlin is trying to do the same thing with an icon in Dale Earnhardt.
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Recently, Hamlin spoke on his Actions Detrimental podcast. There, he laments the current state of modern superspeedway racing. It's all about key manufacturers, how you navigate operating teams, the drafting of it all. It's much more than the man behind the wheel. "We absolutely know that manufacturers play a role in who you draft with, who you don't. Teams play a role in who you draft with, you don't," Denny explains. "I hate all of it, for the record. I'd rather use anybody and everybody to my advantage."
Denny Hamlin Argues Dale Earnhardt Wouldn't Have the Same Dominance Today
Consequently, Hamlin makes the firm argument that given all these external forces, someone like Dale Earnhardt or his son wouldn't dominate in the same way they did in their primes. "Dale Jr. and Dale Earnhardt would have never survived in today's superspeedway racing. A, they wouldn't have been as successful because of how superspeedway racing happens today. But then to be told who you can and can't draft with? It's nonsense. But it's the world we live in," Denny sighs.
Now, this could be my own ignorance of NASCAR here but I don't think Hamlin gives the Earnhardt clan enough credit. At some point, you have to credit a driver who leapt from 18th to top position in 6 laps. Clearly, that kind of driving transitions in any era. Moreover, it's a little unfair for Denny to say that people dedicated to their craft wouldn't adapt in different contexts. That's not to take anything away from his critiques of NASCAR. But it does rob drivers of their agency to throw it completely on systemic headaches.
