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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 30: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, speaks to the media after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

In a recent episode of his podcast Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin addressed the ongoing question around NASCAR drivers as athletes. The three-time Daytona 500 winner shared his thoughts in a clip released by Dirty Mo Media.

The topic has gained attention in sports media, with some questioning whether drivers meet the standard definition of athletes. Hamlin approached the issue by focusing on definition and experience.

His comments reflect the current state of NASCAR, where drivers follow structured fitness programs to handle race conditions. The discussion contributes to a broader conversation about how motorsports compares with traditional sports in terms of physical demands and preparation.

NASCAR drivers as athletes: Denny Hamlin Explains the Definition

Hamlin began with a direct answer. “Are NASCAR drivers athletes? Some. Some are athletes,” he said.

He then broke down the definition. “What is an athlete? Give me the definition of an athlete. An athlete is a person proficient in sports, games, or forms of physical exercise that require, to a varying degree, strength, agility, or stamina. Under that definition, I say yes.”

He explained how training shapes a driver’s body over time.

“When you train for a specific sport for most of your life, your body gets trained to be able to do that. You would not be able to sit in that car and do what we do, turn that wheel, sit in that heat, maintain the G-force. Your bodies are not trained to do that.”

Hamlin made a clear distinction between being an athlete and being athletic.

“So we’re athletes in that sense, but it does not mean that we are necessarily athletic,” he said.
NASCAR physical demands show drivers meet athlete standard

Hamlin pointed to the physical demands of NASCAR to support his view. “The strength and the stamina are the parts that no casual person would be able to do. If you’re going to use that part of the definition, we are absolutely athletes.”

Modern NASCAR racing puts heavy stress on the body. Cockpit temperatures can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit during a race. Drivers often lose several pounds of water weight. They also manage sustained G-forces while maintaining control of the car.

These demands require preparation. NASCAR drivers follow fitness routines that include cardio, core strength, and neck training. Heat preparation is also part of the process. This level of training shows how NASCAR drivers’ fitness has evolved over time.

Denny Hamlin Responds to NASCAR Debate Over Athletes

The debate over whether NASCAR drivers are athletes continues across sports media. Some critics argue that drivers do not meet traditional standards seen in other sports. Hamlin addressed that view but did not escalate the discussion.

“And he’s incorrect. I will not be the person who gets up in arms on social media because of Stephen A. saying this. Like, who cares? Have some thick skin.”

Hamlin has more than 700 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and is a co-owner of 23XI Racing. His experience adds context to the discussion about NASCAR drivers as athletes and the demands of the sport.

The clip from his podcast went viral online, with fans discussing the definition of an athlete and its application to NASCAR. The conversation remains active, but the physical and mental demands of NASCAR continue to shape how drivers prepare and compete.