
via Imago
L: Denny Hamlin. R: Hendrick Motorsports. Image Credits: Imago.

via Imago
L: Denny Hamlin. R: Hendrick Motorsports. Image Credits: Imago.
Hendrick Motorsports has been the center of attraction these past few weeks in NASCAR. Things kicked off after NASCAR slapped a monumental penalty on the team after finding L-2 modifications made to the cars. Soon after, the team decided to appeal the decision.
While only some of the penalty was recalled, tensions still run high as uncertainty looms surrounding their cars. Recently, during one of the episodes of his ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast, Denny Hamlin shared his views on the entire HMS fiasco. He shared his thoughts about NASCAR being livid surrounding the HMS appeal.
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Denny Hamlin thinks NASCAR is livid about the HMS penalty appeal
During his podcast, Hamlin mentioned, “It was a big weekend for Hendrick Motorsports that’s for sure. They won the race for Kyle Larson. They won their appeal. Certainly, it was a very unprecedented appeal where you had the committee agree that they broke the rules.”
He added, “But yeah, took away the points penalty, which that’s really the only thing that matters. So, surely NASCAR is livid about this. I think they showed the lividness by sitting both of Bowman and Byron’s cars…”
He also mentioned how NASCAR was very clear to them, as they mentioned not to screw around the car. He narrated NASCAR’s point, saying, “You’ve asked us to do the single source parts, so don’t mess with them. And if you do the part the final in the points will be so heavy that it’s going to deter you from doing it.”
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Hamlin shares his own frustrations of being a team owner in the middle of this HMS controversy
In the same podcast, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver wondered if the panelists had been “privy” to certain information. This was because he recalled the words of Steve O’Donnell when addressing the teams about the new points’ penalties for the Next Gen cars. Hamlin said O’Donnell had been very adamant, stating, “I’m telling you this is it’s like this, so harsh because, you know, you shouldn’t be messing with them and it messes up our whole business model as teams.”

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NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Qualifying Feb 15, 2023, Daytona Beach, Florida. USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 11. During qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Daytona International Speedway Florida. USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY. Copyright: xMikexDinovox 20230215_mcd_ad4_171.
As the co-owner of 23XI Racing, Hamlin admitted he had been frustrated with the situation. He didn’t want to have to hire additional design engineers to tamper with factory parts. He also felt that the focus had shifted from the main point, which was the significant penalty levied against Hendrick Motorsports for breaking a major rule.
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Hamlin also emphasized that this was “the biggest single biggest rule” violation, and the only worse action would be to “add counterfeit parts.” Moreover, with news seeping in about two of HMS’s cars being taken to the R&D center, there could be even more penalties headed the team’s way.
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