Denny Hamlin comments on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Nashville crash have ignited further tension between competitors after the on-track incident last weekend. Speaking on his weekly Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin did not shy away from addressing the dramatic moment involving Carson Hocevar and veteran driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the Nashville race, even letting Stenhouse’s notorious “Wrecky” nickname slip before correcting himself.
As the situation unfolded, Hamlin said,
“I thought [Hocevar] had a great race. I didn’t see that he wrecked Wrecky— I said that wrong. I said it wrong. It’s not what I meant. It’s not what I meant,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver/Co-owner. The slip was followed by a quick clarification and a smirk, as Hamlin added,
“I didn’t see that he wrecked Ricky. It’s just — they go together.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver/Co-owner.
This tension has roots in Stenhouse’s controversial reputation on the track, with the “Wrecky Spinhouse” moniker following him for years. Hamlin’s remarks brought that reputation back into the spotlight, especially after a contentious moment in the heart of a competitive Cup Series race at Nashville.
Self-Policing and Expectations in the NASCAR Garage
Hamlin, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing while also co-owning 23XI Racing, believes the matter is far from settled.
“We can sit here and talk about it at all, but it’s up to the drivers to self police it,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver/Co-owner.
“I’m very, very confident that Ricky will self police this one.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver/Co-owner. This points to the long-standing tradition in NASCAR for drivers to handle grievances directly, both on and off the track.
The incident in Nashville did not appear to rattle Carson Hocevar, either. While addressing the media following Sunday’s race, Hocevar struck a defiant tone and suggested he had little reason to apologize for the contact with Stenhouse’s No. 47 car.
“If he wants to talk, I’ll be glad to talk,”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver.
“I feel like it’s just a product of this, unfortunately. Just everybody just kind of tries to get there. I think there were a bunch of people that got shipped that either didn’t wreck or did get wrecked,”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver.
Hocevar also highlighted the unpredictable nature of short-track racing, where split-second decisions can trigger long-term rivalries.
“At the same time I feel like maybe I could have got caught a break too with how big of a run I had. So, I think it goes both ways, or could go both ways, and that’s what we’ll talk about.”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver. As the 2023 Daytona 500 winner, Stenhouse’s experienced perspective and willingness to enforce racing etiquette may come into play in upcoming events.
Reputation and What Comes Next After Nashville
The aftermath of the Nashville crash has reignited conversations about Stenhouse’s on-track behavior, especially with his nickname “Wrecky Spinhouse” resurfacing among fellow drivers and fans. The incident and Hamlin’s pointed comments highlight the ongoing challenges of driver relations in the NASCAR Cup Series. These tensions, coupled with split-second racing decisions, often define the competitive landscape, impacting both driver standings and garage relationships.
With Cup veterans like Hamlin and Stenhouse both firmly established and outspoken, any unresolved issues could lead to further drama in upcoming races. The NASCAR community now waits to see if Stenhouse will respond on the track or seek a direct discussion with Hocevar, as drivers continue to balance intense competition with the unwritten rules of the sport. As the series moves forward, all eyes will remain on these drivers and how self-policing traditions unfold after a contentious Nashville showdown.
We all saw Stenhouse come down the track into Hocevar. Exactly the same move when Bell came down the track into Jones. But the analysts Chose to create more controversy by focusing on Hocevar. I almost chocked when post race Dale Jr. called Ricky a ‘nice guy”. Analysts and the media try to create More controversy. If Stenhouse goes race crazy, as in the past, he’s also being goaded into it by ….media.
Analysts are boring and most of the time we turn off the sound. Just call the race! We don’t need re-caps or flashbacks. Viewers should record All the races, then fast forward thru commercials. We Pay for streaming, avoid commercials.