Denny Hamlin, the ‘villain’ of NASCAR, has still not won his first Cup Series championship. He has been racing for 20 years now, and it seems like this year’s playoffs are not off to a great start. Although he made it to the top 16, his pace at Atlanta has been far from expected.

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team recently made headlines by choosing not to sign NASCAR’s new charter agreement. The news generated controversy around the sport. The team stated that they did not have a fair opportunity to negotiate the new contract and decided to skip the deadline. This makes 23XI Racing one of the two teams that haven’t signed the charter agreement, and fans believe NASCAR is lashing out at the team’s co-owner.

NASCAR’s hand at Denny Hamlin’s playoff qualifier demise

The charter agreement is crucial as it guarantees a spot in the field for each race. It also provides financial stability to the teams. By not signing, 23XI Racing risks losing these benefits, which could impact its performance and operations.

So when Denny Hamlin tried to qualify for the Atlanta race and ended up two seconds behind Harrison Burton, it raised suspicions among fans. They speculated that NASCAR might be retaliating against Hamlin and his team for not signing the charter agreement. Many expressed concerns that the engine was potentially tampered with during the qualifier.

There was a pop sound when Hamlin was out for his qualifier run, and after that, the No. 11 Toyota lost pace. There is no proof that NASCAR tried to sabotage Hamlin’s race. However, fans believe that officials could’ve interfered.

The situation could have long-term implications for NASCAR and its relationship with teams. If more teams feel they are not being treated fairly, it could lead to further disputes and impact the sport’s stability. The fans were not one to see past this as they pointed a finger at NASCAR for allegedly sabotaging Hamlin for not meeting the charter agreement expectation.

Fans blame NASCAR for Denny Hamlin’s underwhelming performance

“After today’s charter statement, NASCAR definitely sabotaged this engine,” one fan commented. Fans tied the alleged sabotage to the charter agreement. They believe NASCAR is mad about 23XI Racing not signing the charter agreement and decided to get back at them by causing engine problems. The fan is pretty sure this wasn’t just a random issue.

Another comment read, “Not to be that guy … but with that charter statement, isn’t that kind, sus?” There are several similar reactions, showing that even though fans aren’t entirely sure, they remain suspicious. They think the timing of the engine trouble right after the charter disagreement is just too fishy. NASCAR hasn’t said anything about the sabotage allegations. They usually try to stay neutral and fair, but this controversy has put them under the microscope.

“Should’ve signed the charter,” said one fan, who raises similar concerns about the unmet charter agreement. They believe that by not signing the deal, the team set themselves up for trouble. Does this particular reaction indicate that fans believe, to an extent, that the team brought this upon themselves? One user had a more clear reaction.

“Sabotage for not signing the charter agreement would be my guess.” While the comment suggests retaliation, it’s also clear about the charter part. Yet another fan echoed the same sentiment. “It’s NASCAR sabotaging him for not signing a contract.” While other fans have been a little more subtle with their opinions, this fan is straight-up accusing NASCAR of sabotaging Denny Hamlin’s performance.

Well, it appears that some fans remain convinced despite solid proof. Some aren’t even shying from making controversial comments. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.