Denny Hamlin\u2019s valiant effort to compete for the NASCAR Cup this year until the very last moment left many wondering just how much he truly has left in the tank. Is he superhuman? The 44-year-old raced against much younger counterparts and nearly got the better of them all. So, what is the secret that has helped him stay at the top of his game?<\/p>\n
It is normal for drivers\u2019 results to begin dropping once they enter their 40s. This is sometimes due to a decline in brain processing speed, which leads to slower reaction times. Hamlin spoke about this on the Digital Social Hour podcast earlier this year and explained that, as important as brain function is, eyesight plays an equally critical role.<\/p>\n
Hamlin said<\/a>, \u201cI think one of the things that forces\u00a0NASCAR drivers out is vision at times. But my vision is still 20\/10. I mean, same as it\u2019s been ever since I was a kid. It\u2019s really, really good. I mean, I\u2019m sure I\u2019m slower than I was 10 years ago. But it\u2019s not enough that\u2019s hindering me on the racetrack.\u201d<\/p>\n Interestingly, Hamlin faced major vision issues in March 2014 due to a small piece of metal that had lodged in his eye. It was initially mistaken for a sinus infection, but doctors soon identified the metal and had it removed. The Joe Gibbs Racing<\/a> driver missed a race at Auto Club Speedway because of the incident, but was cleared to return soon after.<\/p>\n