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via Imago

via Imago

It appears the Pocono showdown involving Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson refuses to bow out. The previous week has been chock-full of the burgeoning animosity between these two NASCAR gladiators, with a flurry of commentary being exchanged like punches in a boxing match, either from Hamlin or Larson or other veteran voices in the arena who either endorse or condemn Hamlin’s maneuver.

And now, adding more fuel to the fire, Denny Hamlin has once again stirred the pot with some fresh remarks about how he harbors “no issues” with Kyle playing a similar card against him at Richmond. Moreover, Denny Hamlin insinuated a cryptic message about presenting him with a birthday gift, a move sure to pique curiosity.

Did the Richmond track bear witness to Kyle Larson’s counterstroke?

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During the Pocono race, Denny Hamlin spotted an opportunity when Larson was on the fringe of the track. Hamlin, moving in close to Larson’s left door, triggered an incident that led to Larson’s collision with the outer fence. The retaliation was orchestrated in Richmond, where Larson, fresh off a solid pit stop and with new tires, sought to outfox Hamlin.

In an attempt to overtake from a different lane, Kyle Larson, the man behind the wheel of  Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, made contact with Hamlin’s rear bumper before breezing past him. Hamlin’s perspective on this unfolding saga was revealed in his podcast, where he said,

“I’ve got no issue with it whatsoever; everyone just needs to move on, and if he does nothing, his team probably gives him a bunch of cr*p. One opportunity where he was faster than us that day because he had on new tires. […] When I am side by side with him […] Kyle’s not going to let me hold him up, he’s like, ‘Here! Get you out of the way real quick.’ It’s just convenient; it’s a convenient way to show your displeasure, but keep going about your day.”

Besides that, when Jared Allen brought up the topic of Larson’s birthday, Hamlin, in a demonstration of sportsmanship, wished his competitor a happy birthday. He relayed that he had gifted Larson a pair of shoes from The Grove before the media session.

“I got him a pair of shoes from The Grove from this past week, and I got him the new Grove, Jordan ball marker. And I delivered it to him before media this week. I didn’t realize it was a birthday present. It was more of a sorry, and here you go, and because usually when I go to the Grove, that’s Jordon’s golf course even in Florida.”

He added, “Usually I get a request from the buddies to pick up a few things from there. So, they didn’t ask me to get them something, but I just thought of being a friend and get him some stuff.”

This act of generosity by Denny Hamlin undeniably showcased a commendable gesture, effectively trying to diffuse the on-track tensions and painting a picture of camaraderie beyond the racetrack rivalry. Nonetheless, it appears others, including rival teams and drivers, are unable to let sleeping dogs lie, continuously refreshing the memory of the incident in the minds of the spectators.

Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin Warns Bubba Wallace To Watch Out Amid Creeping Playoff Desperation

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As the competition reached its zenith in Richmond, Chris Buescher‘s team recommended employing his own tactics against Hamlin, reminiscent of those witnessed at Pocono with Kyle Larson.

“That’s racing, guys”: Denny Hamlin declared during his post-race discourse at Richmond Raceway

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When quizzed about his sentiments regarding these remarks, Hamlin displayed equanimity, stating, “Well yeah, I think that no matter who is upfront, they’re going to push some guys wide. At the point where I went to the outside of the 17 in Turn 3, I moved up the race track. That is just—that’s racing, guys; we’ve got to understand. I know we want to linger on it, but this has been happening for a long, long time. Nothing new.”

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Though the laurels of the Richmond race eluded Denny Hamlin, finishing in the runner-up position was no mean feat. Moreover, it seems prudent for NASCAR aficionados and observers alike to put the Pocono incident behind them and turn their attention to the quartet of races that precede the playoffs.

Read More: “Sounds Like a Resume”- Denny Hamlin Relies on Chat GPT to Dig Up SVG’s Secret