Denny Hamlin, a vocal and respected figure in NASCAR, offered an unfiltered perspective on the recent wave of penalties and disqualifications that have shaken the Cup Series in 2025, raising tensions among drivers and teams as NASCAR continues to issue strict punishments. Just days before the All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro, news broke of a severe penalty for the No. 17 team and driver Chris Buescher, intensifying ongoing controversy over the fairness and consistency of sanctions in the sport.
After the Kansas race, Chris Buescher’s car was seized for additional inspection, and officials announced violations of critical NASCAR Rule Book sections regarding the assembled vehicle and the front bumper cover. As a result, Buescher lost 60 championship points and five playoff points, his team was fined $75,000, and crew chief Scott Graves was suspended for two races. Although Buescher avoided outright disqualification, the punishment was severe, echoing earlier instances this season where Joey Logano and Ryan Preece were disqualified after Talladega.
Other drivers, such as Erik Jones, have also faced disqualification for post-race inspection failures, making technical infractions and subsequent penalties a hot topic throughout the Cup Series garage. Denny Hamlin, questioned by reporters at All-Star Weekend, did not hide his frustration or skepticism regarding the handling of these punishments and their impact on the competition’s integrity. He insisted that strict enforcement is necessary but must remain fair, saying,
“No, I mean, it’s certainly gotta be fair to everyone. I had a race win taken away, one [rule] for all, for sure, and whatever it is, whatever the infraction, whatever it says in the book, that’s what the penalty should be level. It shouldn’t be negotiated up or down or anything like that, just by the book.”
In a more pointed assessment, Denny Hamlin highlighted the fundamental issue facing teams this season: the relentless pursuit of competitive advantage in a landscape where technical rules leave little room for creativity or adaptation. He remarked,
“Teams are trying to find any edge that they can with the Next-Gen car because you’re boxed in in so many areas that you’re just trying to find any advantage. It’s just a game of can you get caught or not.”
Denny Hamlin’s comments have fueled debate within the sport, escalating frustration regarding the unpredictability and gravity of penalties. For teams and fans alike, the growing tension over how NASCAR enforces its regulations could shape upcoming races, making rule interpretation and enforcement a central narrative. As NASCAR faces mounting scrutiny and teams keep pushing boundaries, the entire Cup Series now finds itself under a cloud of uncertainty, with Denny Hamlin’s words ringing as both a warning and a challenge to the powers that be.
