Denny Hamlin did his best to keep his spirits high after finishing second at the Food City 500 in Bristol, even though it ended his two-race winning streak. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran was forced to settle for runner-up as Kyle Larson completely dominated the event. In the post-race interview, Hamlin tried to defend the race’s quality, stating, “We shouldn’t throw mud on the racing or whatever because someone goes out there and dominates.” However, that comment seemed to be aimed at fans who had criticized the race as dull.
Interestingly, Hamlin later walked back his comments during his Actions Detrimental podcast. The 44-year-old acknowledged that fans were right to be frustrated and encouraged NASCAR to pay attention to their concerns.
The race at Bristol felt familiar—Larson led 411 of 500 laps, similar to his dominance in last year’s fall event, where he led 462 laps. With a 2.250-second gap between Larson and Hamlin at the checkered flag, the lack of tire falloff and limited action made for a less-than-thrilling experience. Unlike the SciAps 300, where tire strategy mattered, the Cup Series race saw little to no tire wear. Ryan Blaney, for instance, completed 170 laps on a single set of Goodyears with no issue. The 202-lap green-flag run was the longest at Bristol since 2004, leaving fans understandably unimpressed.
After rewatching the race, Hamlin admitted that he now understood the fans’ perspective. “I hear you. I know it wasn’t good. I feel your pain,” he said, expressing a desire for NASCAR to consider changes. He even hinted at having several ideas to improve the racing, suggesting they wouldn’t negatively impact the sport.
Amidst this, Hamlin also addressed ongoing retirement rumors. Despite being 44, he’s in top form, with four consecutive top-five finishes, including two victories. Reflecting on other drivers like Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin, Hamlin said retirement timing varies for everyone. “There’s no way I’ll ever make it that far,” he joked, referencing Martin’s long career, but made it clear he still feels sharp and competitive.
With 56 wins and nearly two decades in the Cup Series, Hamlin shows no signs of stepping away. Whether a future part-time role at 23XI could be an option remains to be seen.
Denny Hamlin Forced to Withdraw His Comments After Eye-Opening Revelations at the Bristol Race
