Denny Hamlin weighed in on the rising controversy surrounding the recent pit road incident at Talladega, where Ty Dillon was criticized for hitting loose tires that struck a crew member. Addressing the Denny Hamlin pit road drama, he offered a balanced view on the matter, providing his perspective as a veteran NASCAR driver just as the debate reached a boiling point across the racing community.
Hamlin Addresses the Talladega Pit Road Controversy
At Talladega Superspeedway, chaos erupted when Ty Dillon, driving the No. 10 Chevrolet, made contact with a pair of loose tires from Josh Berry’s pit box. As a result, the free tires rolled into Berry’s tire changer, who was actively working in the stall. The situation sparked instant outrage among observers and fans, who voiced serious concerns over pit road safety and called for accountability.
Denny Hamlin, never one to hold back on his opinions, decided to tackle the issue in his Action Detrimental podcast. As public outcry intensified, Hamlin maintained a composed approach, choosing not to jump to harsh conclusions about Dillon’s intentions. While reviewing the replay, he stated,
“Yeah, it’s certainly—I mean, it doesn’t look good, but I’ll try to give the benefit of the doubt,”
Denny Hamlin, Action Detrimental Podcast. He also added,
“I never think that anyone has ill intentions to screw anyone else over or hurt someone.”
Denny Hamlin, Action Detrimental Podcast.
The incident placed Ty Dillon, known as Richard Childress’s grandson and a seasoned Cup Series competitor since 2014, at the center of unwanted attention. Dillon started his top-flight racing journey with Richard Childress Racing before moving on to join Germain, Spire, and then landing a full-time ride at Kaulig Racing this year. Despite his experience, the current season has not yielded many strong finishes for Dillon, heightening scrutiny following the chaotic pit road moment.
As replays circulated on social media, some fans and commentators wasted no time in criticizing Dillon’s actions, labeling them as reckless and calling for stronger penalties to protect NASCAR personnel.
Differing Opinions on Accountability and Safety
The situation was further inflamed by a post from Bozi Tatarevic, who offered a blunt assessment of the event:
“Just an atrocious move from Ty Dillon here. Absolutely no need to hit that tire. The tire is well within the box of the 21 car, and there’s no reason for actions like that.”
Bozi Tatarevic, Analyst. Many echoed Tatarevic’s sentiments, demanding that NASCAR authorities impose strict measures to prevent similar lapses in pit road safety.
NASCAR itself did not issue any fines for the incident, which contrasted with the L1 penalty Ty Dillon’s team faced in 2022 due to technical violations during inspection. However, observers argued that the optics alone were damaging, as safety standards on pit road have become a focal point across recent seasons. Compounding matters, Dillon had recently been involved in a crash at Las Vegas that led to his spotter Joe White being dismissed for not warning the team’s crew about Kyle Byron’s oncoming car, adding to concerns about oversight within his team.
Hamlin took a measured approach, reconstructing how events might have appeared from Dillon’s perspective inside the cockpit.
“I think that he just said, ‘Well, if I can clear the bumper of the 21, then I’m all good,’”
Denny Hamlin, Action Detrimental Podcast. He went on to detail the unintended consequences, saying,
“But unfortunately, someone was sitting there with a tire right behind them and knocked the tire into the guy. So, yeah, it certainly looked bad.”
Denny Hamlin, Action Detrimental Podcast.
Hamlin noted how pressure and blind spots can affect judgment when split-second decisions are made on pit road, and pointed out that Dillon’s spotters only warned him about the presence of the No. 21 car’s crew. This lack of further information created a difficult scenario, requiring Dillon to carefully reverse out without incident—a challenge Hamlin admitted to having faced himself.
Kyle Petty, another prominent NASCAR commentator, weighed in on the controversy and underlined the responsibility of drivers to ensure safety for everyone on pit road. He explained,
“Ty Dillon left the pit box thinking, ‘I’m not responsible for what this car hits.’ The tire is there. You’ve got to avoid that tire because you’re gonna knock that tire exactly like he did, up under the back of the car, into a crew member. That’s a safety no-no.”
Kyle Petty, NASCAR Analyst.
Kyle Petty’s comments highlighted that the incident speaks to values beyond potential fines or points deductions. He argued that the primary obligation of any NASCAR driver is to prioritize the safety of those around them, since lapses can carry real risks for crew members and personnel. Fault lines within teams are exacerbated when such fundamental aspects of race management are called into question, raising the stakes not just for Ty Dillon, but also for Kaulig Racing and for NASCAR as a whole.
Hamlin’s Broader Perspective on Team Dynamics
After finishing his thoughts on Dillon and the fallout from the pit road drama, Denny Hamlin moved on to discuss another situation that is making headlines off the track. Spire Motorsports, a mid-tier NASCAR team, is preparing for the departure of Justin Haley at the conclusion of the current season, a move that has unsettled both fans and team insiders.
Justin Haley, who made an impact by winning Spire’s lone Cup Series race in 2019 at Daytona, joined the team again in mid-2024, stepping in for Corey LaJoie. However, his 2025 season has been challenging, with only a single top-five finish and a position of 31st in the standings. A mid-season change of crew chiefs, replacing Rodney Childers after only nine races, added to the instability. The turbulent relationship between Haley and Spire revealed itself in unpredictable results, despite past flashes of promise observed during his previous stints with Kaulig and Rick Ware Racing.
Hamlin’s analysis of the Spire-Haley split was tactful. He refrained from making pointed accusations, observing,
“I just never saw enough out of the #7 that I was seeing in the #77 or the #71. And so I don’t know the reason for that.”
Denny Hamlin, Action Detrimental Podcast. Rather than assigning blame to any single factor, he acknowledged that chemistry issues, engineering challenges, or leadership shifts could have contributed to the team’s downward trajectory. He summarized with his characteristic caution, stating,
“So, for me, it would all be speculation, and I don’t really care to throw anyone under the bus, but certainly you can’t argue that the results were not there for whatever the reason were.”
Denny Hamlin, Action Detrimental Podcast.
Hamlin’s comments reflect a deep understanding of how performance in NASCAR relies on many overlapping factors and how quickly fortunes can shift, especially for organizations trying to cement their place among the Cup Series elite.
The Impact of the Pit Road Drama and What Lies Ahead
The Denny Hamlin pit road drama at Talladega will likely influence NASCAR conversations for some time, stoking ongoing debates about safety, responsibility, and professionalism. Ty Dillon’s actions and Hamlin’s response have become touchpoints for larger questions about the communication and decision-making that occur in the heat of competition. Meanwhile, input from figures like Kyle Petty and Bozi Tatarevic demonstrate the passion with which the NASCAR community addresses the well-being of its drivers and crew members.
As Dillon works to rebound from a challenging season and Kaulig Racing analyzes its pit procedures, the ripple effects extend to all competitors. For teams like Spire Motorsports, internal shakeups and public scrutiny underline the ever-present pressure to deliver results. Hamlin’s even-handed commentary marks him as one of the sport’s leading voices, offering insight that helps frame the conversation while steering clear of inflammatory rhetoric. NASCAR continues to evolve amid these challenges, with the next steps shaped by lessons from incidents both on pit road and behind the garage doors.
Just an atrocious move from Ty Dillon here. Absolutely no need to hit that tire.
The tire is well within the box of the 21 car and there's no reason for actions like that. pic.twitter.com/KiDu2QanHg
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) October 19, 2025
