Denny Hamlin believes that Ryan Blaney will not seek revenge against William Byron in a severe manner. The history of drivers retaliating against each other after incidents in previous races has produced some of the most dramatic moments in NASCAR. However, Hamlin, a future Hall of Fame member of Joe Gibbs Racing, suggests that today’s drivers often fail to follow through on the revenge promised against their rivals.
Hamlin’s comments come after he himself promised to seek revenge against Byron for an incident that resulted in his disqualification (DNF) at Darlington last week. During a three-car battle in the second stage, Byron made an aggressive move that sent Hamlin into the wall, breaking his pinky toe. Although Hamlin acknowledges that revenge may not be guaranteed, he does not rule out the possibility. These drivers may be waiting for the right opportunity to retaliate and inflict enough damage on their rivals to discourage future offenses.
Regarding Blaney’s possible revenge against Byron, Hamlin suggests that he anticipates an intense race between the two drivers, but nothing out of the ordinary. He believes that Blaney, driving the No. 12 Ford, will make the day more challenging for Byron in the No. 24 car. However, Hamlin acknowledges that Blaney’s off-track relationship with Byron may influence his behavior on the track. Despite this, he recognizes that Blaney’s aggressive nature on the track may still lead him to seek revenge in a more severe manner.
