Bubba Wallace’s Insider Highlights the Effects of Denny Hamlin Fiasco on Tony Stewart’s NASCAR Driver’s Conservative Take On Kyle Larson Altercation at Bristol

One thing is pretty clear after Denny Hamlin’s penalty and the fact that it was upheld despite the appeal and despite some other appeals for equally, if not more severe violations, getting modified, is that drivers will now measure everything they say for the fear of being penalized. This was something which Freddie Kraft, the spotter of Bubba Wallace recently pointed out.

And the reference he gave was of Ryan Preece’s post-race interview in Bristol after the Stewart Haas Racing driver seemingly wrecked Kyle Larson out but claimed he got loose.

Spotter of Bubba Wallace points to the Denny Hamlin effect in NASCAR

Speaking in a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft reacted to the post-race interview claims of Ryan Preece as he measured it with what actually happened on the track.

“I think you saw a direct result of Denny Hamlin’s penalty in Ryan Preece’s post-race interview. ‘I just got loose, I just got loose, I don’t know what happened, I don’t race dirt, I just got loose,'” Kraft said. “If Denny doesn’t get hammered for saying what he said, Ryan’s gonna come out and say, ‘I raced that guy the way he raced me. He ran me in the fence.'”

“The thing that bothers me, is that post-race interview, we’re not seeing these drivers be honest because they’re afraid of what Denny got. God forbid you admit any kind of intentional maneuver, they hammer you with $50,000 and take 25 points away from you.”

Having said that, Kraft claimed that it wasn’t actually Preece’s fault altogether in wrecking Larson out of the race, that it was a rather fair deal.

WATCH THIS STORY: Dale Earnhardt Jr Defends Hendrick Motorsports Against ‘Cheating’ Allegations While Blaming “Miscommunication” To Be the Cause of $400,000 Fiasco

Wallace’s spotter acquits Preece of any wrongdoing against Kyle Larson

Trending

Rick Hendrick’s Company Drops a Surprise Christmas Gift for Chase Elliott & Co

NASCAR Lawsuit: Both Parties Reach an Agreement as One Loses the First Bout

“Gotta Do Better”: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Drops a Sad Christmas Realization With Heartfelt Wish

NASCAR Rumor: After Bitter Fallout, Joe Gibbs Could Redeem Kyle Busch’s Lost Legacy, Insinuate Fans

Rick Hendrick’s Former $141.04 Billion-Worth Partner Joins NASCAR Aiding Hurricane Helene’s Victims

Wallace’s spotter claimed that Kyle Larson may not realize that he himself was the reason for what happened to him. The spotter argued that when Larson ran Preece into the fence earlier in the race, he bent their toe-link which eventually broke a bolt that led to Preece spinning.

“Kyle was the direct result of why Ryan’s night was ruined and I don’t think Kyle realized that when Ryan got back to him, and Ryan didn’t do anything more than what Kyle did to Ryan,” he described. “And the reason why Kyle wrecked was Kyle.”

Kraft added Preece gave back what he got as he ran Larson into the fence off of Turn 4.

“He didn’t out-and-out right hooked and door him, he just ran him up the racetrack until they were both kinda up against the wall and then Ryan moved out,” he described. “Ryan was doing it intentionally.”

“Let’s not kid ourselves, he is a very good racecar driver.” 

Also Read: Hendrick Motorsports Subtly Slips In a Testament of Innocence Amid Chaos Around Contradictory Penalty Verdicts