The Denny Hamlin NASCAR Xfinity Series controversy continues to resonate with race fans, highlighting persistent questions about rule applications and the role of Cup drivers in lower-tier events. Recent events at Daytona International Speedway and echoes from Milwaukee in 2007 have reignited conversations about fairness, recognition, and the purpose of developmental racing.
Recent Events Highlight Ongoing Debates
This past Friday, excitement filled Daytona International Speedway during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race as Parker Kligerman took the checkered flag. Celebrating in Victory Lane with his team, including the injured Connor Zilisch who watched from the pits, it seemed the Connecticut native had finally achieved his dream victory in the series. Kligerman, a well-regarded journeyman racer and popular broadcaster, had previously come close to a win, notably falling short by mere feet at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL the previous season after a late caution disrupted his chances.
Despite his apparent triumph, Kligerman remains officially winless in the Xfinity Series. The reason lies in NASCAR‘s strict rulebook: in situations where a relief driver steps in, as Kligerman did for Zilisch following his surgery, the original starter retains full credit for both the result and points. This regulation was implemented to help protect the interests of injured drivers before the introduction of playoff waivers, which eventually allowed competitors to miss races without devastating consequences to their championship hopes. As a result, Zilisch, who started the race, is credited with the win in records and standings, underscoring the emotional complexity beneath the feel-good moment.
Kligerman’s role as substitute and ultimate driver to the finish captured fan attention. At 35, he has rarely enjoyed the stability of full-time drives, having debuted in the Xfinity Series with Team Penske at age 19, grabbing a pole at Kansas Speedway, before years of bouncing between teams as both a part-timer and broadcaster. This unique mix of on-track spirit and off-track expertise has built a loyal following, making the Daytona narrative one that deeply resonated with fans who rally behind underdogs and longshots.
With many in the stands rooting for both Kligerman’s determination and Zilisch’s recovery, the moment became a celebration of resilience and teamwork. Yet, the celebration’s aftermath—whereby the record books deny Kligerman official recognition—proved to be a potent reminder of how rules and circumstances can redefine what a win truly means. This situation also brought to mind another polarizing episode from NASCAR history.
Revisiting a Controversial NASCAR Moment from 2007
The current debate is not without precedent. Nearly two decades ago, a race at the Milwaukee Mile left race fans with a distinctly different emotional response. During a standalone Xfinity Series weekend with the Truck Series, the spotlight fell on Joe Gibbs Racing’s two drivers: part-timer Aric Almirola, who qualified and started in the No. 20 car, and Cup Series regular Denny Hamlin, scheduled to arrive fresh from his duties at Sonoma Raceway on the West Coast.
Arriving late due to travel delays—Hamlin was forced to wait at the airport as his helicopter could not find an available helipad—NASCAR required JGR to start Almirola, who had impressively claimed the pole position over seasoned drivers Jason Leffler and home-track favorite Scott Wimmer. Almirola, then a driver with a year in the Truck Series under his belt, seized the lead at the green flag to early applause.
On lap 29, a caution triggered by oil from Ian Henderson’s failed engine set the stage for drama. Carl Edwards, having made the cross-country journey, grabbed the lead on the restart. Meanwhile, Hamlin was still en route, and the anticipation grew among sponsors—especially Rockwell Automation, whose employees had gathered in Milwaukee to see their driver in action.
As the third caution waved on lap 57 following Ron Hornaday Jr.‘s spin, Hamlin, now present, swapped into the car under yellow. He rejoined the race a lap behind but managed to regain lost ground with a free pass later in the night. Over the final 100 laps, Hamlin led the field twice for 64 laps, including the all-important last one, ultimately crossing the finish line half a second before Scott Wimmer. However, under NASCAR‘s rules, Almirola, who had started and initially led the car, was awarded the win in the record books.
The decision triggered immediate outrage. Many felt that Almirola, who outperformed expectations and earned his shot with a dominant early performance, should have been permitted to finish the event. Although Denny Hamlin, just in his sophomore Cup season and riding high after a rookie year that concluded with a third-place points finish, had his critics, much of the frustration centered more on Joe Gibbs Racing and the influence of sponsor Rockwell Automation. Fans perceived the driver swap as a blow to a promising development driver’s career, sacrificing his moment for the interests of a visiting Cup regular.
The Rulebook and Its Ramifications
The Kligerman and Hamlin incidents, while separated by circumstances and sentiment, both spotlight NASCAR’s unyielding approach to the rulebook. In both cases, the driver who started the race is credited with the finish, even if replaced mid-event by a relief driver. The consistency of this policy is unquestioned; what differs are the personalities and the perspectives of fans, who judge each case in its unique context.
The Milwaukee episode occurred at a time when restrictions were absent on how many Xfinity (then Busch) or Truck Series events Cup regulars could compete in. Established Cup drivers frequently entered and won in these series, given superior team support and sponsorship, earning them the nickname ‘Buschwhackers’ from eager fans. Frustration grew as Cup-level drivers dominated results: of the sixteen Xfinity races before Milwaukee in 2007, only Kentucky saw a series regular—Stephen Leicht—take a win; the rest went to the likes of Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Hamlin himself, and Kasey Kahne.
This era saw Cup regulars win 30 out of 35 Xfinity races, with championship rules then allowing drivers to chase points across all three national series. Carl Edwards claimed the 2007 Xfinity title by a staggering margin, while Harvick and rookie David Ragan also ranked highly despite running incomplete schedules. Fans became vocal, pushing for reforms to preserve development opportunities and ensure that aspiring talents like Almirola weren’t eclipsed by established stars dropping in to ‘cherry-pick’ victories and sponsor attention.
NASCAR would later react, introducing limits on points eligibility and the number of races Cup drivers could enter in lower series to help restore balance and focus on emerging talent. Yet, cases like the Denny Hamlin NASCAR Xfinity Series controversy at Milwaukee continue to serve as turning points in discussions about sporting integrity, opportunity, and the often-unexpected outcomes generated by unbending rules.
Emotional Impact and Community Response
The emotional undertone in both cases is unmistakable. At Daytona, the charm of an underdog achievement, even if administratively imperfect, drew cheers for both Kligerman and Zilisch. The community’s collective celebration exemplified the sport’s appeal—stories of resilience, mentorship, and overcoming adversity, where everyone loves an underdog but also respects the rules that make NASCAR unique.
In contrast, the 2007 scenario exposed the strain between business interests, sponsor influence, and the nurturing of young drivers. Race fans, passionate veterans, and insiders alike recall the moment as one where the desired narrative—of a development driver seizing his opportunity—was overridden by external pressure, leading to widespread disappointment and long-standing debate over what fairness should look like in motorsports.
Ongoing Significance in NASCAR’s Evolution
The Denny Hamlin NASCAR Xfinity Series controversy, alongside recent events like Kligerman’s bittersweet Daytona triumph, continues to shape how fans, sponsors, and stakeholders view the sport’s priorities and challenges. These moments ask fundamental questions: Should the rulebook always override the story on the racetrack, or should extraordinary performances prompt a reconsideration of tradition?
As NASCAR moves forward with reformed rules and renewed focus on developing talent, these history-making races remain central in discussions about sportsmanship and the balance between opportunity and consistency. The impact of these cases is seen today in a more nuanced approach to points, eligibility, and relief-driver policies, underscoring how past controversies have driven change within the organization and for the community of fans it serves.
