NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes that Michael Jordan has rubbed off on Denny Hamlin and played a key role in his recent succes in the sport.
At 45 years old, Hamlin is arguably better than ever, leading the Cup Series standings through 19 races and having four victories under his belt already. Five if you include his All-Star Race win at Dover.
While there is still a long way to go this season, Hamlin looks a sure bet to be involved in the championship battle right to the last, and at this stage, he has to be considered the hot favorite.
If he were to lift the championship at Homestead in November, it would be the first of Hamlin's career, and Earnhardt Jr. believes that working so closely with Michael Jordan as a co-owner at 23XI has inadvertently helped him take his ability to the next level.
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Earnhardt Jr. on MJ-Hamlin relationship
“How could being around a guy like that not bring the best out of you?” Earnhardt Jr. said live on TNT Sports pre-race on Sunday regarding Jordan and Hamlin.
“Denny Hamlin works really hard to be the best, and I think being around Michael and listening to some of the advice and just wanting to motivate yourself to please him, right?
“Denny has asked him to come be a part of this and promised him that it would work out, that’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself when you bring Michael Jordan into the sport.
“And so, you know, Denny's going to push himself to make sure it all succeeds. But he's also maybe inadvertently learning how to be a champion.
“And really, how to get that other two or five percent of eliteness that he hadn't been able to discover up to this point.”
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