Denny Hamlin has voiced his dissatisfaction with fellow NASCAR driver Ross Chastain following an incident during Sunday’s race at Talladega. Hamlin, who finished 21st, experienced one of his worst performances recently after securing four consecutive top-five finishes, including two victories. One place ahead of him was Chastain, who managed to come in 20th.
During a key moment in the race, Hamlin attempted to move to the outside of the track to gain an advantage, but Chastain blocked him, annoying the No. 11 Toyota driver. In response, Hamlin didn’t hold back his words on the recent episode of his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, airing his grievances in a fiery manner. Using strong language, he shared his belief that if roles were reversed, Chastain would not hesitate to collide with him, insisting he was merely maintaining his lane among the pack.
“I believe the roles reversed, he would probably just run into me,”
Hamlin expressed.
“I would think he would run into me as he should and say, ‘I didn’t make you swerve. I was running my lane with the pack of cars that was on the racetrack.’ So, I just think it’s b——t racing and I guess you got to just hold it down.”
Hamlin’s frustration was evident as he described his series of unfortunate finishes on superspeedways, pondering the idea of taking a more aggressive approach in future races. Despite his candid criticism, Hamlin faced scrutiny from others, including Chris Buescher‘s crew chief Scott Graves, who blamed Hamlin for a separate incident causing his driver’s wreck on Sunday.
Currently, Hamlin holds third place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, trailing behind William Byron and Kyle Larson. Meanwhile, Chastain is positioned 10th as they head into the Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY at Texas Motor Speedway. Both drivers continue to battle for better standings, with tensions lingering from their on-track confrontations.
The racing world watches closely as Hamlin and Chastain continue their journeys in the NASCAR Cup Series, both eager to improve their rankings and prove their mettle. The incident at Talladega highlights the intense and sometimes controversial nature of competitive racing, where drivers are constantly challenged by their peers and the limits of their vehicles. As the season progresses, the impact of these tense interactions remains to be seen, with fans and participants alike eager to witness how these dynamics unfold.
