Denny Hamlin has epiphany, fires shots after learning Ty Dillon won NASCAR bracket matchup at Dover

Denny Hamlin was victorious once again at Dover International Speedway on Sunday. However, that didn’t stop him from making some pointed comments at Ty Dillon after finding out the No. 32-seed clinched a spot in next weekend’s finale for the NASCAR In-Season Challenge.

The lowest-seeded driver in the inaugural event, Dillon was expected to go quietly when the tournament started. However, he bested Hamlin during the first race of the challenge in Atlanta, when the veteran wheelman wrecked, and since then he’s left a slew of veteran wheelmen behind.

Dillon has defeated Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman and John Hunter Nemechek on his way to the final round. Now, the No. 32-seed will have one final test, with Ty Gibbs standing in the way of a gigantic upset during Year 1 of the In-Season Challenge.

That doesn’t mean Hamlin is super impressed though. After learning Dillon made the finale for next weekend’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he provided some shots at the Welcome, North Carolina native.

“Is he in the finals? You know what that tells me though… Had I got past Atlanta how easy was my trip going to be to the finals? Where’d he finish? 20th?!” Hamlin stated, following his win at Dover. “Listen, I’m rooting for him personally, especially as the worst seed, right? But I think at Indy, he’s gonna need some help.”

Denny Hamlin on Ty Dillon making the finals of the In-Season Challenge: ‘Let’s go Ty Gibbs’

Hamlin’s 23XI Racing wheelman in Tyler Reddick was still in the running, but Gibbs eliminated him at Dover. Hamlin left no doubt who he’ll be rooting for next weekend: “I’m all Ty [Gibbs] now. I wasn’t this week but it looks like he knocked out Tyler [Reddick],” he added. “So, let’s go Ty Gibbs.”

Alas, that’s to be expected. The duo are teammates after all. Still, it’s giving off a bit of hater energy from Hamlin for the Kaulig Racing wheelman.

At least Dillon isn’t letting what Hamlin and some other drivers have been saying get him down: “It feels good,” Dillon said, regarding reaching the finals, via NBC Sports. “You know, I have been the underdog for a long time now, just battling my way to try to get opportunity. Eventually you get comfortable in fighting from behind and people underestimating you. 

“It’s hard to say that we lucked into it this far in, and I am proud of the way we have run. We haven’t been a dominating car, but we have been a pain to everyone around us. That is all we can do — put pressure on them and execute at the right time and that is what we have done.”

It’ll all come down to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ironically enough, that’s one of Ty Dillon’s better tracks in the Cup Series. Perhaps he can finish the job and win the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge, and then other drivers in the series will have no choice but to congratulate him.