Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin kicked off his 2024 season with an impressive win at the LA Clash. He used the chaos during the race to his advantage to secure his fourth career Clash win, as he had to charge back to the front after falling to the back due to an early race spin. The race witnessed the re-ignition of some old rivalries and the formation of a few new ones.
One of the incidents occurred during the half-time break at the event. The 2023 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. exited his car during the 20-minute half-time break and approached Legacy MC’s John Hunter Nemechek ’s car. He stuck his head in, removing the safety net, and had a heated confrontation. Stenhouse Jr. was unhappy with the way JHN raced his during re-starts.
Veteran Denny Hamlin has voiced his displeasure over the way Stenhouse Jr. approached the altercation. He pointed out that the JTGR driver was being unfair when he confronted the LMC driver while he was still inside the car, as it didn’t give Nemechek a chance to counter. Hamlin reminded Stenhouse Jr. that his move wasn’t a tough guy move.
I don’t know if there’s an unwritten rule, but certainly, it’s not fair. You’re not really a tough guy if you go up to someone and punch him while they are strapped in to the car. I’ve been in scuffles before where one of the parties was held down. You can’t throw a punch at someone when someone else is holding them. Like that’s just not fair. Hamlin said via Action Detrimental.
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Denny Hamlin details what should be a real fight with example
The No:11 Toyota Camry driver went on to detail the rules of a real fight and pointed out that it should be a one vs one situation with no third party involved where both will have a fair shot. He then recalled the fight between Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson from 2023 as a good example of a real fight.
That was a real fight because they were face to face. I didn’t see it coming, and unfortunately, he didn’t get the counter before the others came in. Hamlin said.
Going into the 2024 season, if LMC didn’t make a massive jump in performance after their move to Toyota, there is a huge chance that Stenhouse Jr. and JHM will be fighting for similar midfield positions throughout the years. This increases their chances of having more such incidents, which can escalate into an intense rivalry.
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