Denny Hamlin recently backed up comments made by fellow Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr., who expressed frustration over the way NASCAR drivers have been racing. Truex’s discontent arose after the Watkins Glen race, where out of the 16 playoff drivers, only two finished in the top 10.
The race was chaotic, with multiple crashes, and Truex ended up finishing in 20th place. Afterward, he criticized the aggressive driving on the track. In his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin echoed Truex’s concerns, saying that there’s a lack of respect among drivers, particularly in high-stakes situations like green-white-checkered finishes.
Hamlin shared his thoughts, explaining that the racing has become more aggressive over time. He noted how drivers are more willing than ever to squeeze into tight spaces, regardless of the risks involved. According to him, if there’s even the smallest gap, drivers are now more likely to take the risk, even if it leads to a crash. “There’s just no regard anymore,” Hamlin remarked. He continued, “If there’s a quarter of a car width available, someone’s going to jam their car into it in Turn 1, and if you spin out because of it, well, that’s your problem, not theirs.”
Hamlin went on to explain how this aggressive style of driving, especially during green-white-checkereds (which are late-race restarts), leads to many of the crashes seen in recent races. In his view, drivers are running over each other just to gain a single position. But, he admitted, there isn’t much that can be done to change it. Hamlin also noted that Truex’s frustration, and his declaration that he’s “done” with it, is typical of Truex’s straightforward personality.
Martin Truex Jr., who is having a difficult season, has had his fair share of struggles, particularly in this year’s Cup Series. After announcing his retirement from full-time racing, things have not been going smoothly for the 44-year-old. Following the Watkins Glen race, Truex finds himself 14 points behind the playoff cut-line, and he hasn’t finished in the top five since May. If he wants to stay in the playoffs, he’ll need a win at Bristol.
Historically, Truex has performed well at Watkins Glen and other road courses. He has four Cup Series wins at Sonoma, a victory at Watkins Glen in 2017, and has placed in the top three in four of his last six races at the track. Despite this, his recent performance was disappointing, and his frustration boiled over after an incident during the last restart at Watkins Glen, where he was involved in a crash caused by Kyle Larson, who blocked the track. This collision also affected Josh Berry and Austin Cindric.
Truex was clearly frustrated after the race. He expressed disbelief at how races frequently come down to chaotic restarts where drivers aggressively push through each other. In his eyes, this aggressive behavior undermines the skill level that NASCAR drivers are supposed to have. “It’s just crazy that all these races always come down to this,” Truex said, “I don’t really understand how guys can call themselves the best in the world when they just drive through everyone on restarts at the end of these races.” He wrapped up his thoughts with a resigned tone, saying, “It’s very frustrating, but it is what it is these days, so I’m out of here.”
In summary, both Hamlin and Truex agree that NASCAR racing has become increasingly aggressive, with drivers showing little respect for each other, particularly during high-pressure moments. Truex, in particular, is feeling the strain, as his season hasn’t gone according to plan, and the chaotic nature of recent races has only added to his frustrations. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if these concerns about driver conduct will lead to any changes in the sport.
