Denny Hamlin is expressing dissatisfaction with the recent penalties imposed by NASCAR. The controversy surrounding the conflict at North Wilkesboro is far from over. The focus has now shifted to the lack of penalties for the retaliatory move by the RCR veteran against the JTDG Racing driver on the second lap. Denny Hamlin, a veteran of Joe Gibbs Racing, has strong opinions on this matter.
During a recent episode of his podcast “Detrimental Action”, the three-time Daytona 500 winner highlighted the injustice of Kyle Busch not receiving a penalty, especially considering that Hamlin himself was penalized for a similar incident last year. Hamlin admitted his guilt in the incident through his podcast, just as Busch did in a post-race interview.
In the podcast, Hamlin revealed that he contacted NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, Elton Sawyer, seeking clarification on why Kyle Busch did not receive a fine or points deduction. Although Sawyer did not provide a response during the podcast, Hamlin believes he deserves an answer as a co-owner of 23XI Racing.
Hamlin also commented on the $75,000 penalty imposed on Ricky Stenhouse Jr., stating that it was excessive and suggesting that NASCAR’s decisions are detrimental to the sport. He believes that drivers will now hesitate to engage in confrontations, which will ultimately impact NASCAR’s promotional efforts.
Hamlin’s observation that the severity of the fine may discourage drivers from expressing their opinions is accurate. The drama, as witnessed at North Wilkesboro, is crucial to the sport, and people should be allowed to freely express their emotions.
