While they are friends off the track, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson might not get along on the NASCAR track anymore after today. Hamlin put Larson into the wall and went on to take the win at Pocono Raceway. The way he saw it, he did nothing wrong.
If you really want to know how Denny Hamlin and his team feel about today, look no closer than the radio conversation. Hamlin’s crew chief Chris Gabehart got on the radio and communicated with his driver a bit.
Of course, when you talk on the radio, everyone at the track knows what you are saying. Especially other teams.
After Larson came up and doored Hamlin under caution, the JGR driver remarked, “That’s a penalty.”
“He’s such a crybaby,” Gabehart responded, according to Davey Segal of NASCAR SiriusXM. “The sh-- he does to people, and then that. I know he’s your buddy and all, but good grief. Has he seen the sh== he does to people?”
Meanwhile, Larson and his crew chief were talking about the incident as well. Safe to say, they know what the 11 team thinks of them.
“We didn’t say a word on our radio, but wait until you hear the sh-- they talked on their radio. I’ll just leave it at that,” Cliff Daniels told his driver, via Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.
Again, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson are usually buddies. They hang out off the track and all of that good stuff. However, their relationship on the track may have changed for good after today.
Denny Hamlin apologizes for nothing
Of course, Hamlin doesn’t feel bad at all. He just won a record-breaking seventh race at Pocono. It was his 50th career Cup Series victory, and the 600th NASCAR national series win for Joe Gibbs Racing. Not to mention, after last year’s DQ, Hamlin wasn’t going to give an inch.
Perhaps this wouldn’t have been such a big deal if the race hadn’t ended under caution the way it did. Ryan Preece spun out, stalled, almost got going again, then stalled as the field came to the white flag. Soon, the caution flew and Hamlin cruised to the finish line with the win.
Fans booed like they haven’t booed this season. It was impressive. Honestly, it was bigger than any jeers that Kyle Busch or Bubba Wallace get during a race weekend. Folks were yelling, throwing things, and Hamlin didn’t even go to the fence to get the checkered flag.
Kyle Larson is “pi--ed” about the whole situation. Denny Hamlin doesn’t think he can do any wrong. I’m sure this isn’t the last we hear of this as the playoffs loom.
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