Denny Hamlin and NASCAR haven’t seen eye to eye on all things in the past. Right from the issue of increasing the horsepower on the Next Gen car to the dismal short-track racing package. Not to forget, he’s taken NASCAR to court over the charter system dispute. However, this time around, he is taking aim at their new innovation, labeling them as gimmicks to build up hype and headlines.

We all know the new Open Exemption Provisional has become a topic of debate among the racing community. Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, and Justin Marks have all shared their honest take on the new provision that guarantees a starting position for non-NASCAR drivers. Well, it’s fair to say that this Open Provisional is still a work in progress, but Denny Hamlin isn’t letting NASCAR off the hook.

Denny Hamlin is not a fan of the Open Provisional

NASCAR has gone the extra mile in terms of attracting eyeballs to the premier stock car racing series. We all know how big of a deal it is for drivers across different disciplines to compete in the Indy 500. NASCAR’s very own star driver Kyle Larson made his debut last year, just like other NASCAR greats have done in the past. Well, NASCAR is trying to do something similar that could lead to cross-over and garner attention from the racing community with the OEP. But Hamlin isn’t a fan of the new rule, citing that it’s not fair that drivers from different series get an entry for major NASCAR events.

“It reeks of desperation. I don’t love it. It’s just reaching to do whatever you can to make a headline. It’s a short term gain at a long-term loss.” Hamlin said this ahead of the Cookout Clash at the Bowman Gray Stadium. The JGR driver also added that drivers should be able to qualify for the race on their own merit. This could also be a cryptic jab aimed at Trackhouse Racing and Justin Marks, who has come out in NASCAR’s defense after the backlash by the racing community.

Going by the rule book, none of the full-time drivers can apply for the provisional. Moreover, a team has to apply for the provisional 90 days in advance, which NASCAR will treat on a case-by-case basis. They labeled the OEP as being granted to a world-class driver and have left the definition of world-class open for interpretation. Veteran driver Mike Wallace was barred by NASCAR after getting the go-ahead initially, but at the same time, Helio Castroneves will have a guaranteed entry at the Daytona 500.

“What I’m questioning, or what I need more answers to, is what’s the criteria that dictates, who gets in and who doesn’t? Does it just become a popularity contest, and what again is the popularity are basing it off? Then you’ve got past champion and seven-time champion like Jimmie Johnson; where does he fit in that kind of criteria?” This is how Jeff Gordon responded to NASCAR’s new rule.

Denny Hamlin’s criticism of NASCAR didn’t end with his staunch opinion on the OEP. Rather, he highlighted greater concerns that the sport is going through right now.

The sponsorship model is breaking apart, leading to uncertainty among drivers

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Joe Gibbs Racing, out of all the NASCAR teams, knows how painful it can be to lose out on long-time sponsors. They had to let go of Kyle Busch with the M&M’s departure from NASCAR after 2022, and post-2024 season, they lost out on yet another prominent sponsor, FedEx from the No. 11 team. There was a lot of uncertainty and nervous energy among Denny Hamlin fans as they feared the worst outcome, similar to that of Rowdy.

Fortunately, JGR has been able to rope in Kings Hawaiian and National Debt Relief as primary sponsors for four races each in 2025. But the driver of the No. 11 car is concerned because even an established team like Joe Gibbs Racing had to struggle to find new partners. Hamlin said, “It’s tough out there. Sponsors are hard to come by.” Not only FedEx but also Mavis Tires also left the #11 stable after 2024, so there’s still work to be done by JGR to secure Hamlin’s entire 2025 race schedule.

Nothing is going right for Denny Hamlin and the #11 team ahead of the 2025 season and the sponsorship woes are only adding to his troubles.