Denny Hamlin Unearths the Actual Reason Behind Drivers’ Dissatisfaction Towards Bristol Dirt After Bubba Wallace Termed It a Gimmick – “Read the Room”

This might sound a bit harsh, but Sunday’s Food City Dirt Race was a failure. With empty stands and drivers cribbing about the windshields and other racing conditions, it seems like the governing body needs to reconsider certain decisions. However, divulging a bit away from the popular media opinions, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin feels like there is another important issue that NASCAR should focus on addressing before anything else.

Many drivers, including Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace expressed their views on why dirt racing isn’t the best idea for NASCAR cars. In fact, Wallace called the whole idea a ‘gimmick’ while late model dirt series champion Jonathan Davenport said that the Bristol race wasn’t real and was just a show instead of a race. But unlike them, Denny Hamlin recently shared his own theory on what upset the drivers most.

In an episode of Actions Detrimental Hamlin said, “Before the race even started we had a lot of people, drivers just like ‘Arghhh.’ Even Kyle Larson was one who was saying ‘We shouldn’t be on dirt’ and he was definitely against it. Bet you after the race he felt very similar to that.”

“But you know, I think when I read, looked into a lot of driver’s comments in the media, pre-race, I think they were as frustrated about racing on Easter as they are about the dirt.”

Denny Hamlin asks the track official to ‘read the room’

So, Denny Hamlin feels that racing on Easter was one of the main reasons that upset the drivers at Bristol. But is that really true? Maybe. Because Hamlin has a hilarious anecdote to support his theory.

BRISTOL, TN – APRIL 09: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series driver Jonathan Davenport 13 spins during the Food City Dirt Race on April 9, 2023 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN. Photo by Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 09 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City Dirt Race Icon2304090010051

While talking about what made him believe that the drivers were really upset about racing on Easter, Hamlin shared, “Like I don’t know if they have a personal vendetta with the dirt. I think it’s just racing on Easter. And when we had our driver’s meeting, I think it was the track president and he was like (enthusiastically) ‘Happy Easter everyone!!’ And it was dead silent. No one said anything. (laughs) It was like ‘Read the room.’ Yeah, read the room for sure, right?”

READ MORE: “We Don’t Belong on Dirt”—NASCAR Insider Doubles Down on Kyle Larson’s Bristol Criticism After Bubba Wallace Deemed It a “Gimmick”

Is NASCAR responsible for upsetting the drivers at Bristol?

According to Denny Hamlin, it’s all just a part of the industry. While talking about how racing on a holiday like Easter might take a toll on the driver’s enthusiasm, Hamlin said that it is a tough decision. Moreover, he explained why he understands, and to some degree agrees with the drivers on not returning the official’s enthusiasm.

He said, “It’s just we have such a tough schedule make in our industry, go out there and run the dirt on Easter is just tough. It’s really tough. I understand the reasons for it, but I don’t agree with it.”

WATCH THIS STORY: “Such a Detrimental Performance”—Denny Hamlin Reveals the Ugly “Mess” Bubba Wallace Got Caught Up In

Their dislike for dirt races or missing Easter with family – no matter what the reason was, NASCAR drivers just couldn’t seem to enjoy Sunday’s Bristol race. With complaints about the cars’ designs and questions about the necessity to host a dirt race at a concrete speedway, the governing body received tons of negative feedback about their decision to race dirt.