Denny Hamlin Acquits Joe Gibbs’ Grandson as He Refuses to Pick Sides in Joey Logano’s Clash Drama

Many would say that the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum didn’t quite hit the mark on the thrill-o-meter. Reason? Those next-gen cars trying to tango on a short track. And then, there weren’t as many edge-of-your-seat moments as you’d hope for. But there was one showdown that had everyone rubbernecking — Joey Logano and Ty Gibbs getting into a bit of a tiff post-race. Seems like Logano was steamed over a track maneuver by Gibbs that didn’t sit right with the 2022 Cup champ. Talking about the same on his podcast, when it came to dishing on the dust-up, Denny Hamlin kept out of the fray but threw a protective arm around his boss’s grandson.

Denny Hamlin steered clear of taking sides but stood up for his boss’s grandson amid the Logano-Gibbs spat

The controversial confrontation between Joey Logano and Ty Gibbs stemmed from the fact that Ty Gibbs ran Logano up. The two drivers had a heated chat post-race, neither walking away particularly pleased with how things panned out.

On his podcast, Hamlin offered a fresh take without playing favorites. “I look at it from an unbiased perspective on me. Take the car out, let me take my teammate out and everything and I’m gonna say that Ty didn’t give Joey very much space. You know, he ran him up the racetrack to go restart the one where I was able to take the lead because of it. I definitely feel… is it very unbiased that Ty did not intentionally do it. Ty is just trying to win his… very first race, right?”

Hamlin didn’t shy away from suggesting Logano might’ve had a hand in the tangle too. He admitted that he has been in Ty Gibbs’ position. Hamlin said he couldn’t keep the front tires on when he wasn’t beside anybody. However, at the same time, he also asserted, “Absolutely inadvertent mistake on Ty’s part. When I say mistake- he tried to turn, he tried to hold it low. I did see Joey crowd him. […] He didn’t leave the young guy very much room for error in my opinion.”

Hamlin clarified he wasn’t saying Logano deliberately squeezed Gibbs. He said that it felt like Logano was playing it tight, not giving Gibbs much space to maneuver. And if Logano got a nudge, he’d still be in the clear, but Gibbs would be in a tight spot. According to Hamlin, it was a smart move, but it comes with risks. That’s because when Gibbs did slip and nudged Logano, it set off a chain reaction that cost Logano big time.

Hamlin found himself in the mediator’s seat, lending an ear to both sides of the story. “I think Ty has a legitimate argument, and upon talking to Joey about this a little bit, I was kind of the middle man, listening to his side and Ty’s side, ” Hamlin reflected on his Actions Detrimental podcast. But apart from Logano and Ty Gibbs’ skirmish, with the Daytona 500 on the horizon, Hamlin’s got his eyes on the prize, while he is trying to bounce back from shoulder surgery.

Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin Triumphs in First Clash at the Coliseum, Eliciting Cheers from Fans

Is #11 set to snatch his fourth Daytona victory after a five-year break?

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Hamlin stands out as the sole driver of his era to etch his name among the top 20 Daytona victors’ list. His last triumph at the iconic track dates back to 2019. Yet, even with a surgery recovery in the backdrop, Hamlin’s riding a wave of momentum that just might carry him across the finish line first. Despite admitting in a pre-race interview how he might not be able to give his 100% to the first race, he won it. And that would most likely have given him confidence that he can win his 4th Daytona race.

Moreover, the victory was just the tonic Hamlin needed to buoy his spirits during his recovery from surgery. In a post-race chat, Bob Pockrass checked in on Hamlin’s shoulder situation. With an optimistic tone, Hamlin responded that it was holding up pretty well. He said that the team figured the race would be a bit of a test for it. But once the adrenaline kicks in, drivers, including him, barely notice the pain. And now he is certainly eyeing the Daytona 500.

“It is a big momentum boost. It doesn’t do much more than that. I clean off all the trophies every January 1 and now we get to add one pretty quick,” Hamlin remarked about his recent performance.

Read More: Denny Hamlin Retires Iconic “I Beat Your Favorite Driver” Punchline, Names His Dad’s Dislike Behind Heartbreaking Decision

Despite the fact that it was the jeers from the stands that rolled in rather than claps, Hamlin had a cheeky comeback, “You know I beat your favorite driver again, right?” And truth be told, he wasn’t off the mark; he did outperform the pack.