Denny Hamlin was trying to be a good sport at Bristol. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran finished runner-up at the Food City 500, a disappointing outcome after securing two wins in a row. However, Kyle Larson’s supremacy forced the No. 11 racer to hold his hands up and concede defeat, going on to admit in the post-race interview that “we shouldn’t throw mud on the racing or whatever because someone goes out there and dominates.” But for whom was it for?

It was a snide remark to the fans, many of whom had called the race ‘boring’. It’s not often that Hamlin takes back his own words, but he did so in the latest iteration of his Actions Detrimental podcast. The 44-year-old admitted that fans had a point and urged NASCAR to take action.

Denny Hamlin is hoping NASCAR will listen to the feedback

History repeated itself at Bristol Motor Speedway. Just like last year’s fall race, Kyle Larson dominated the 2025 Food City 500, leading 411 laps on his way to Victory Lane. While it wasn’t quite like the Bass Pro Shops Night, where he led 462 laps, the gap between ‘Yung Money’ and Denny Hamlin was 2.250 seconds at the finish line. It’s not exactly the kind of race fans were hoping for, especially because the tire falloff was virtually non-existent, making it into a one-man show.

Denny Hamlin, who took a subtle dig at fans in the post-race interview, went on to rescind his comments in the Actions Detrimental podcast. He said, “You got to realize fans, all I see is, what’s in my, I’m in a cocoon for those 500 laps. All I know is my experience. Now, when I went back and watched the race, I hear you. I get what you’re saying. I hear you. I know it wasn’t good. I feel your pain, I do. We’re trying to do our best on this show to get someone in NASCAR to listen to us.”

Unlike Saturday’s SciAps 300, where tire management played a big role in the overall race, the Food City 500 was an entirely different ballgame altogether. Tire wear was virtually non-existent, with Ryan Blaney going 170 laps on just one set of Goodyear tires, and didn’t seem to be slowing down. It’s not surprising that fans found the Cup Series race boring, as it featured a 202-lap green flag run, the longest at the short track since 2004 and the first 200+ lap run in the stage racing era.

With no cautions, tire falloff, or on-track incidents, Kyle Larson ran away with it. He won both stages and became the first driver since Bobby Allison in 1972 to lead 400+ laps in back-to-back Bristol races. Taking these factors into account, can fans really be blamed for criticizing the quality of racing? Denny Hamlin has a plan for what needs to be done to improve the races, and he went on to say, “I wish they would call me and say, ‘What would you do?’ Because there are about six things that I think we could do to truly, truly make it better, and it has no adverse side effects to it.” But with the lawsuit going on in the background, it’s far from likely that NASCAR will heed Hamlin’s feedback.

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Hamlin addresses retirement rumors at Bristol

Denny Hamlin is showing no signs of slowing down. Four top-five finishes in his last four races, including two wins, is nothing to scoff at, and despite being 44 years old, the veteran believes that his “drive is still there and obviously the performance is still there.” He’s not wrong. While the Bill France Cup has eluded the Florida native in his long and illustrious career, one can’t help but feel that 2025 might be a make-or-break season for Hamlin to finally achieve his lifelong dream.

Sharing his thoughts on retirement, Hamlin said, “I think people like Harvick. I think he was 48 when he retired. Like, he was still on top of his game as far as I was concerned. I think it’s different for everyone. Others you’ve seen get to 43 or 44, and the light switch goes off. You just never know.” He went on to say, “Mark Martin did it when he was 50 and was fantastic. There’s no way I’ll ever make it that far, but again, everyone’s body, mind, and eyesight are all different, and it goes away at different times.”

Despite competing in the Cup Series for almost two decades, Denny Hamlin’s best finish at NASCAR’s highest level was runner-up in 2010. Over the years, he has managed to secure 56 wins, 366 top-10 finishes, and 43 pole awards. As long as the results are good, there’s no reason for the No. 11 driver to close the curtains just yet, right? Racing is a lifestyle for Hamlin, who said, “I think I’d have a tough time just stopping.” Is a part-time stint with 23XI a likely possibility for Hamlin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!