Denny Hamlin Reveals the Driver He Wants the Most on Actions Detrimental and His Relationship With Him

Denny Hamlin‘s 2023 season has been peppered with its fair share of spats and squabbles, notably involving Kyle Larson, and Ross Chastain, among others. Yet, in a recent twist during his visit to Dale Earnhardt Jr’s podcast, Hamlin dropped a hint about extending an olive branch in a rather unique way. He mentioned his plan to invite one of his on-track adversaries to his show, Actions Detrimental.

When Dale Earnhardt Jr curiously nudged Hamlin to spill the beans on who he’d like to have over for a chat on the podcast, Hamlin didn’t miss a beat before naming Ross Chastain.

Denny Hamlin plans on turning a new page with Ross Chastain

The March incident at Phoenix, where Denny Hamlin intentionally sent Ross Chastain spinning – a moment he openly confessed to on his podcast – had fans convinced their rivalry was set in stone. So, it came as a surprise when Hamlin expressed interest in having Chastain as a guest on his show.

Chatting with Dale Earnhardt Jr, Hamlin admitted he hadn’t yet extended the invite to Chastain. When probed about their latest interaction, Hamlin shared that it was just casual small talk when their paths crossed on the track.

The roots of their tiff trace back to last year, sparked by Chastain’s audacious move at Martinsville, now famously known as the “Hail Melon.” It was a game-changer, booting Hamlin out of the playoffs and propelling Chastain into the final four, leaving Hamlin fuming.

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Yet, time seems to have cooled the heated rivalry. Hamlin now views the penalty he faced for the Phoenix clash as a blessing in disguise, pushing past grievances into the rearview mirror. He believes things are now on an even keel between him and the Trackhouse racing driver, signaling a potential thaw in their frosty relationship.

#11 opines about the price for closure at Phoenix

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Denny Hamlin, the man behind the wheel of No. 11, made waves with his forthright admission on his podcast about intentionally taking out Ross Chastain. The confession came with a hefty price tag – a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty. During a heart-to-heart on Dale Earnhardt Jr’s podcast, Hamlin pondered over the episode and its repercussions.

Despite the financial blow and the dent in his points, Hamlin reckoned the confession was a pivotal moment. He quipped, “That was worth it though. Let me tell you, because that 50 grand, wherever it was, the points didn’t matter until they did. It turns out they didn’t, at the end of the day it was the regular season championship. But that ended it with me and Chastain. It was worth the grand league for it to be done. And whether it was the actions on the track or talking through a mic, like to him at times, it was worth it to me to get that behind us. It has just been going on for too long.”

Read More: “Worth 50 Grand”- Denny Hamlin Reveals How NASCAR’s Brutal Response to Intentionally Wrecking Ross Chastain Paid Off

Interestingly, when Denny Hamlin first spilled the beans on Actional Detrimental about his deliberate crash with Chastain and subsequently got fined, Dale Earnhardt Jr half-expected Hamlin to retire his podcasting mic amidst the hullabaloo. But it appears that Hamlin’s candidness might have been just the ticket to close the chapter on their longstanding feud and steer towards fresher roads.