Hamlin does believe drivers have a voice and that NASCAR listens to what they sayGETTY IMAGES
NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin was instrumental in forming the Drivers Council in '15, but he recently said the racing circuit "did not want a drivers' union, for sure, and I still don't think they want a drivers' union." Hamlin, talking to NBC's Nate Ryan, said, "I thought about it quite a bit and I realized that what I really needed to focus on was on track. This was going to take time to really do it right. We were going to have to hire a staff. We were all going to have to split a lot of attorney's fees for this whole thing, and it just lost some steam." Hamlin noted the Drivers Council began as an effort from drivers "wanting to see a change in competition." He said, "We came in there unified and it worked and we got what we wanted for a year or two, and then things changed." Hamlin: "It's a circle. It's constantly, 'What's the best for the sport, what's the best for the fans,' versus, 'What's the best for the teams, what's best for NASCAR.' And they don't always line up." There was no official Drivers Council last year, and Hamlin said the effort has "morphed into ... kind of like it was in the old days, where we're not afraid to exchange some text messages." He said NASCAR does sit with drivers "at least twice a year" to get their feedback on issues. Hamlin still believes drivers "should have an official voice." He said, "We have a voice, don't get me wrong. NASCAR definitely listens to us. (But how) you organize it, who does it, I don't know" ("NASCAR on NBC," NBCSPORTS.com, 2/3).
