Denny Hamlin & William Byron Finally Settle Their 2022 Texas Beef After HMS Star Admits to Uncharacteristic Retaliation

The 2022 AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 saw multiple cautions being brought out. Stage 1 witnessed Martin Truex Jr slam into the outside wall in the initial laps. Then a crash ended the race day early for Kyle Busch. After a couple more cautions, Kyle Larson won stage one. During stage two, a scary crash saw Cody Ware taken to the infield care center on a stretcher, but he was later cleared with no broken bones or concussions. Chase Elliott then crashed into the wall on Turn 4, with Ryan Blaney winning the second stage. With the last stage commencing after an hour’s delay, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr again brought out a couple more caution flags owing to their separate crashes.

What stole the cake was Denny Hamlin and William Byron’s tango during the final stage, which saw Byron intentionally wreck Hamlin. Almost a year later, Hamlin and Byron appeared on a recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, burying their hatchet.

William Byron and Denny Hamlin make amends

Early in the race, Denny Hamlin pushed William Byron into the outside wall. After briefly hitting the wall, Byron quickly recovered with negligible damage to his #24 car. Byron then continued to charge ahead without paying much heed to Hamlin’s actions, at least that’s what it seemed like. In a shocking turn of events, Byron then intentionally spun the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver several laps later, during a late caution. Byron was initially fined $50,000 and docked 25 driver points. Later, Byron’s points were reinstated, but his fine was increased to $100,000.

Having moved past the incidents of the 2022 Texas playoffs race, William Byron and Denny Hamlin sat down for a chat on the sets of the Actions Detrimental podcast. Discussing the 2022 playoffs race incident, Hamlin said to Byron, “Hey, it’s not too late to say I’m sorry. Let’s hash it out from Texas 2022 playoff race.”

Revealing how the #24 driver furiously spun him out, Denny further added, “Willie B, the introverted child from his younger days, turned into Hulk and says ‘I’m going to get this guy’ and spins me out under caution. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you retaliate.”

Accepting his mistakes, the Hendrick Motorsports #24 driver replied, “I told you on the phone, when I got to under caution, I definitely meant to send a message. But when you went spinning through the infield I was like [expletive], that’s not good.” 

Hamlin then question Byron asking, “Did you think that NASCAR was going to penalize you in the moment?”

Byron answered the question, admitting, “I thought so yeah, and then I thought maybe they didn’t see it, or maybe it just was an awkward circumstance where I hit him. I did hit you off-center a little bit and I mean it hit you hard … I meant to you deliver a message. When you went spinning I’m like oh no, that’s not good. I’ll take away his chance to win.”

Burying the hatchet once and for all, the 23XI Racing co-owner admitted that he too was at fault, adding, “I’m the one that, I crowded him and again it was trying to manipulate his car to have to lift, and you know it all worked out. We both made the next round, so it all worked good. And like you said too, we didn’t have any issues before that, and yeah it was just one of those you know product of this next-gen car.”

While the HMS and JGR drivers made amends, fans were glad that the NASCAR stars were ready to look past the incidents of yesteryears.

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Fans rejoice as Denny Hamlin and William Byron bury the hatchet 

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As the podcast episode went live on YouTube, NASCAR fans were enthralled by Denny Hamlin and William Byron laughing off the 2022 Texas playoffs incident. Commenting on the podcast developments, joyous fans commented, “Dang I respect Hamlin for laughing about it now [laughter emoji]” and “The Gang Squashes Their Beefs.” Here are some more comments from fans.

“Glad they can laugh it off and move on! Unlike NASCAR fans…”

“Denny Hamlin’s podcast is far from boring for sure.”

“Glad to get a current driver as a guest! Keep them coming!”

Read More: Denny Hamlin Prophesies the Worst Possible Chicago Disaster & William Byron Doesn’t Disagree

Who do you think should Denny Hamlin invite next to bury more hatchets? Let us know in the comments.