Positive Reviews from Hamlin on New Tire at Richmond

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Denny Hamlin talks about how the new tire and downforce package will work well at Richmond, which is one of his favorite tracks.

"This is the drivers' favorite race track," said Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, during the Goodyear Tire Test on March 29. "If you polled all us drivers about what track we like to race the most, Richmond's always going to be at the top of the list."

That's a glowing review of his hometown track for the 2016 Daytona 500 champ, who also said a win at Richmond is among his "top three" goals for this NASCAR season. But Hamlin was just as impressed with how the new tire package felt out there on NASCAR's only 3/4 mile track. 

"Extremely pleased with what we've seen so far from the aero package, and the tire that's gone with it," Hamlin said. "The aero is getting a lot of the credit for the great racing we've seen this year and the great finishes, but (the aero) has also given Goodyear the chance to make some adjustments and give us the tire we've been looking for for a long time."

Hamlin's certainly right about the great racing. Already we've seen two of the top eight closest finishes in NASCAR history, just five races into the 2016 campaign. Where will we see the next historic moment? It could be at Richmond, during the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 weekend on April 22 - 24th. Sunday afternoon racing is BACK, and the drivers are excited about the move and what it will mean for the action on track.

"We're encouraged about it, and definitely encourage the fans to come out and make a day of it," Hamlin said.