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Denny Hamlin Blasts Daytona 500 Chaos: “Our Champion is Just Lucky—That’s Not Legitimate”

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
February 18, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Denny Hamlin Blasts Daytona 500 Chaos: “Our Champion is Just Lucky—That’s Not Legitimate”

Denny Hamlin answers questions from reporters during Media Day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

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Denny Hamlin has had enough. The three-time Daytona 500 winner and Joe Gibbs Racing veteran didn’t hold back after the 2025 Daytona 500 ended with yet another last-lap wreck instead of the clean, strategic finish that fans crave.

On his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, Hamlin unloaded on NASCAR’s increasingly reckless superspeedway racing, arguing that “no one is being held accountable” for the dangerous, last-minute moves that routinely trigger massive crashes and overshadow true racecraft.

“Why has it become expected that we’re all just going to take each other out?” Hamlin said. “Because you won’t hear any media holding anyone accountable for making ridiculous moves.”

Daytona 500 Chaos: “It’s Getting Out of Control”

Hamlin’s frustration stems from what he sees as a dangerous trend—races being decided by luck, not skill.

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  • NASCAR’s Next-Gen cars have amplified the issue, making it harder to pass cleanly and increasing aggressive blocks and dive-bombs.
  • The Daytona 500 has become a wreck-fest, where whoever survives the chaos wins, rather than the best driver in the best car.

“The thing is, it’s getting out of control,” Hamlin warned.
“We keep trending in this direction… our winner is lucky, our champion is lucky. That is not good for being legitimate in the sports landscape.”

This is a damning indictment from one of the sport’s top stars—essentially suggesting that NASCAR’s season-opening crown jewel has lost credibility as a true test of talent.

Hamlin’s Urgent Call for NASCAR to Fix Superspeedway Racing

Beyond just the legitimacy of results, Hamlin also sounded the alarm about the physical and mental toll that superspeedway racing is taking on drivers.

  • Constant wrecks mean drivers are at higher risk for concussions and injuries.
  • Mentally, it’s exhausting—knowing that a championship can come down to a wreck instead of skill.

“We definitely should address it,” Hamlin said.
“And for my mental health, for my physical health—I just want us to really address superspeedway racing.”

Will NASCAR Listen?

Hamlin’s remarks shine a harsh spotlight on an issue that NASCAR has largely ignored—but can they afford to keep doing so?

The sport’s biggest race should be a showcase of strategy, skill, and execution—not wrecks, luck, and survival. If NASCAR doesn’t act, Hamlin believes the sport risks losing its legitimacy among both drivers and fans.

The ball is in NASCAR’s court—but will they finally make a change before another season’s champion is decided by a wreck instead of a race?

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