NASCAR All-Star Race Controversy: Denny Hamlin’s Stance
Last year’s NASCAR All-Star Race seemed like a missed opportunity for excitement, and nobody felt this more keenly than Denny Hamlin. After seeing Joey Logano dominate the race, leading an overwhelming 199 out of 200 laps from the pole position, Hamlin expressed his frustration. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, he did not hold back, describing the race as monotonous and emphasizing that fans were more engrossed in a fight between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch than in the race itself. The stagnant $1 million prize, in his opinion, was another outdated aspect of the event.
Initially hopeful that a new option tire could breathe life into the race, Hamlin was met with disappointment. The tires failed to degrade quickly, making overtaking nearly impossible. “If everyone runs the same speed, you’re not going to pass,” he argued, even suggesting track repaving to make surfaces more abrasive, thereby increasing tire wear. His proposals resonated with many drivers who also urged NASCAR to consider major changes.
NASCAR recently unveiled a bold and, some say, reckless twist for the 2025 All-Star Race: allow teams to “Run What Ya Brung” and construct any vehicle they wished, provided it complied with safety standards. However, instead of sparking excitement, the proposal instilled fear, prompting swift rejection from teams, including 23XI Racing co-owned by Denny Hamlin. The apprehension stemmed from the potentially disastrous financial implications.
The upcoming 2025 All-Star Race was proposed to include a 250-lap main event with a scheduled break at Lap 100 for adjustments and a surprise “promoter’s caution” between Laps 101-220. Qualifying would entail a three-lap run with a pit stop after Lap 2, and heat races would decide the starting lanes. Yet, it was the “Run What Ya Brung” rule, suggesting teams could bring any setup using approved Next Gen parts, that posed the most distress.
Denny Hamlin, voicing his concerns as both a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and a team owner, declared the idea impractical. “It’s impossible. It’s just not feasible. No team is going to sign up to voluntarily lose millions of dollars,” he said. He broke it down: modifying car parts to stay competitive would lead to financial ruin. A single car, costing around $300,000, would become unusable. Even worse, budget discrepancies threatened to give wealthier teams an unfair advantage.
Jared Allen, Hamlin’s podcast co-host, suggested teams could collectively decide on minor alterations. But producer Travis Rockhold questioned the reliability of such nonbinding agreements, sarcastically noting, “You’re going to trust every team to follow these unwritten rules?” Hamlin added that competition naturally breeds extreme tactics, citing the controversy over NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders as a parallel.
Hamlin remarked,
“When it comes to competition in sport, you’re going to do whatever it takes to win.”
He compared this with the alleged NFL team collusion against Sanders, implying teams would act in their own interest. This competitive spirit, if left unchecked, would make it impossible for teams to resist seeking advantages.
The idea, while innovative, was fraught with financial risks and competitive imbalances. Teams struggled to embrace a concept that could amplify existing inequalities. The response from the motorsport community was mixed; while Hamlin and others opposed the concept, executives from well-resourced teams like Roger Penske’s were open to the challenge. Penske’s team president, Michael Nelson, declared, “Bring it on. Whatever the rules are.” Luxury allowed wealthier teams to entertain such prospects, leaving smaller teams at a disadvantage.
Despite the initial backlash, the proposition failed to gain traction. Nonetheless, it unearthed the deep-rooted financial strains between NASCAR’s governing body and the team owners. This situation mirrors the underlying tensions in the Shedeur Sanders incident, where potential collusion was suspected.
Transitioning from administrative conflicts back to the track, Denny Hamlin faced further trials at Talladega. During the chaotic Jack Link’s 500 race, Hamlin’s attempt to aid teammate Christopher Bell ended in disaster. Bell lost control after a push from Hamlin, resulting in a crash with Chris Buescher and ending their races prematurely. Bell, however, maintained composure, publicly stating, “It definitely was a brutal shot. Thankfully, my seat and HANS worked really well.” He absolved Hamlin of fault, citing the aggressive nature of the current race cars.
In contrast, Chris Buescher’s crew chief Scott Graves was less forgiving. He criticized Hamlin’s maneuvers through a tongue-in-cheek remark on social media, illustrating the frustrations inherent in racing.
As the dust settles, Denny Hamlin continues to navigate the complexities of the NASCAR landscape, where financial ties, competitive integrity, and on-track performance are ever-intertwined challenges.
