Ty Dillon trolls Denny Hamlin Atlanta became the talk of the motorsports community after an unexpected result in the Cup Series race on Saturday evening in Atlanta, as Dillon, the No. 32 seed, outperformed Hamlin, the top seed, sparking strong reactions from drivers, insiders, and fans. The surprising upset and Dillon’s playful post-race poke at Hamlin sent shockwaves through NASCAR, generating a cascade of commentary from across the sport.
NASCAR insiders weigh in after Dillon’s upset of Hamlin
The outcome in Atlanta has stirred much discussion among NASCAR insiders and participants. On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Ryan Blaney, alongside hosts Freddie Kraft, Tommy Bladwin, and Karsyn Elledge, discussed the aftermath of the race and Ty Dillon’s decision to troll Denny Hamlin after Dillon unexpectedly out-finished him in the Cut Series’ In-Season Tournament. Ryan Blaney acknowledged, in a lighthearted manner, Dillon’s victory over Hamlin following Kraft’s joking remark about Dillon beating the favorite.
The conversation quickly shifted as Kraft offered his genuine perspective on Dillon’s playful antics directed at Hamlin fans after the checkered flag. After Blaney’s comment, Kraft remarked,
“No, I think it’s really funny,”
and emphasized,
“I mean, this is what they wanted when they made this race, the first race of the damn challenge was to flip it on it’s head. I’m sure we can go through a little while and go through some of the upsets, but this is probably one of the bigger ones. Obviously, the No. 1 seed in the tournament is out in the first round because he got caught up in a wreck with other 40 people in Turn 3. But I think this is funny that Ty is showing a little personality.”
—Freddie Kraft, podcast host
The dynamic was especially notable because Denny Hamlin entered the event as the top-ranked driver of the In-Season Tournament, only to be eliminated after a crash involving numerous competitors. Meanwhile, Ty Dillon, entering as the lowest seed, finished a solid eighth place, while Hamlin ended the race in thirty-first. The episode was one of the more remarkable shakeups in the tournament, delivering exactly the kind of surprising outcome organizers may have hoped for.
How Dillon taunted Hamlin and fan reaction
In the immediate aftermath of his unlikely success, Dillon used his post-race interview on TNT to address Hamlin’s supporters directly, declaring,
“For all you Denny fans out there, I just knocked your favorite driver out.”
—Ty Dillon, driver
This playful jab quickly circulated on social media and NASCAR forums, drawing both support and pushback. The banter exemplified the sort of light-hearted yet spirited competition that races like Atlanta’s In-Season Tournament sometimes produce.
Hamlin’s response to being trolled by Dillon
Denny Hamlin wasted little time reacting to Dillon’s comments. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin showed no signs of frustration with the situation, instead displaying a self-deprecating sense of humor.
“I see people giving Ty Dillon a lot of flak… give him his moment, people. He beat me,”
Hamlin said. … He was ahead of me the whole f*cking race. I was 33rd until we crashed. Just let him have his moment. He texted me — he was like, ‘Hey, I was just playing around.’ I loved it. If you people think that you are going to hurt my feelings by coming in my mentions and saying, ‘Haha, Ty Dilon beat you,’ like, you’re never going to make fun of me more than I’m going to make fun of myself. You’re not going to offend me. I have really thick skin.” —Denny Hamlin, Cup Series driver
Hamlin further expressed his views on public scrutiny and resilience, stating,
“You open yourself up and when you do that, the moments you fail, they’re going to give it to you. But you’ve got to be a big boy and take it. I am going to take it from Ty Dillon.”
—Denny Hamlin, Cup Series driver
The exchange demonstrated Hamlin’s ability to take the ribbing in stride, reinforcing his reputation for thick skin and a willingness to accept the highs and lows that come with professional racing and its rivalries.
Impacts and what this upset means moving forward
This Atlanta result shifts the momentum within the NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Tournament and highlights the unpredictability that continues to fuel fan engagement within the sport. Ty Dillon’s show of personality and confidence, along with Denny Hamlin’s ability to accept the outcome with humor and humility, brings a refreshing level of candor and entertainment to the series. While the upset eliminates a major contender early, it opens doors for lower-seeded drivers and intensifies the drama as the tournament continues. The reaction from figures like Ryan Blaney, Freddie Kraft, and even Hamlin himself ensures this story will echo through the paddock for weeks to come, while fans and insiders alike watch closely to see which surprises are in store for the next round.
