The last few weeks have been very dramatic for Joe Gibbs Racing veteran driver Denny Hamlin . The three times Daytona 500 winner had his controversial win in the Cup Series race at Richmond and in the same week was also involved in an ‘online beef’ with Speedway Motorsports Inc. boss Marcus Smith.
The beef was started by Denny Hamlin after he called out SMI’s lack of re-investment on tracks. He was also frustrated by the unfairness of the money distribution between the teams, tracks, and the behind-the-scenes issues with SMI. This sparked a lot of debate, but recently on the Action Detrimental the Noi:11 Toyota driver spoke about his regrets regarding how the beef unfolded.
I mean, sometimes you need to get people talking about something, to get change. I don’t, I certainly regret the personal stuff. For sure. But it’s, it’s just very agitating, as someone who has invested a lot of money in this sport over the last four years, to see how these three parties — NASCAR, the tracks, and the teams. How, it’s just frustrating to see, how it’s all run. Denny Hamlin said via Action Detrimental Podcast.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver ended by speaking about the positives as well that have come to the sport due to SMI and the improvements they’ve made. The heated debate between Hamlin and Marcus Smith was something that became too personal between the two and something the 23XI Racing co-owner surely regrets.
Denny Hamlin’s plea to SMI to improve NASCAR Experience
During the same episode of Action Detrimental, Denny Hamlin spoke about the positive improvements he expects from SMI and NASCAR in the future. The number 11 added how he expects the heated online beef with Marcus Smith will raise more talk and surely lead to improvements in the future.
Hamlin then spoke about how on his podcast, he’s usually been very supportive of NASCAR and given them credit where it is due. After this, he added how he has to call them out on certain things that can be improved a lot.
I think positive change will happen. Yes, You know, their argument will be, ‘Well it’s a negative. You’re talking negative about something, and so that’s not a positive.’ This is 100% — this is not this is not going to be a rose-colored glasses show today. I’m sorry about that. But we will be as honest as we can be. Denny Hamlin said.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver seemed to want Marcus Smith and SMI to look into the necessary issues trackside and behind the scenes. Only time will tell if all of this talk will actually have a positive and better impact on the sport.
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