Cheers were heard from the stands as Chase Elliott went on to lift the Bobby Allison Memorial Trophy. To say that the Hendrick Motorsports driver is adored by the NASCAR fan base would be an understatement. Just last year, he took home the NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award for the seventh year in a row, highlighting just how highly he is regarded within the community. In comparison, Denny Hamlin has been far from an endearing figure in the sport, despite his undeniable talent on the racetrack.

The two racers have had a tense relationship over the years because of multiple on-track incidents. However, it seems like Hamlin and Elliott are on cordial terms this year, going by their brief exchange after the Cook Out Clash at the Madhouse.

Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin are letting bygones be bygones

It’s fair to say that Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott haven’t always been the best of friends. In a sport as cut-throat as NASCAR, where the stakes are high and the finest margins can make all the difference, on-track incidents are an inevitable consequence. While the drivers don’t have a longstanding feud, there have been several incidents between the duo that have caused a strain on their relationship over the years. Being at Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing hasn’t helped either, as both the teams consider each other ‘rivals’ on the racetrack.

The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray had a chance to reignite the rivalry. Despite starting from the pole and leading the majority of the race, Chase Elliott was overtaken by Denny Hamlin for 28 laps at ‘The Madhouse’. The two racers were engaged in an entertaining eight-lap duel after a restart, with the Hendrick Motorsports driver admitting, “Denny was really good at the second half of that break.” However, the JGR driver was eventually forced to give up the lead and was kept at bay for the last 70 laps. But, how did the rivalry begin in the first place?

While it is a mixture of many instances, one of the biggest incidents between the two occurred at Martinsville Speedway. Chase Elliott was leading the 2017 First Data 500 at ‘The Paperclip’ and was on the verge of securing a spot in the Championship 4 at Homestead Miami. However, Denny Hamlin, who was multiple laps down made contact with the No. 24 Chevy, forcing the Hendrick Motorsports driver to spin out. After the race, both the drivers were seen engaged in a heated discussion and almost coming to blows while being surrounded by race officials.

Not one to forgive easily, Chase Elliott took his revenge when the time was right. Weeks later, the Hendrick Motorsports driver retaliated by bumping Hamlin into the wall at Phoenix Raceway and forcing him to finish 35th. In the post-race interview, the No. 11 Toyota driver took responsibility for the incident at Martinsville, going on to say, “It was a mistake on my part, and I’ve moved on from it.” Since then, the tension between the two racers had started to cool down, with both having a cordial relationship on and off the track. But, Elliot taking over Hamlin to win ‘The Clash’ holds its own significance.

Fans share their thoughts on Hamlin and Elliott’s amicable relationship

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It’s the end of an era. For many NASCAR fans, watching the ‘beef’ between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott was a highly entertaining affair as it involved two of the biggest names in the Cup Series. Watching both of them being ‘civil’ with each other was a heartwarming sight for one fan, who urged both the racers to concentrate on their performances ahead of the 2025 season. The fan wrote on X, “Love to see it! Big year ahead for both of them 👏👏👏.” Recalling the many clashes between the two over the years, a motorsports enthusiast couldn’t help but say, “Wow that’s different.”

Given how tense the relationship between Elliott and Hamlin used to be, one fan found it difficult to believe that both the racers had put their differences behind them. Observing the change in dynamics between the two, the X user wrote, “Never thought I would see that happen.” Echoing that sentiment, another fan was surprised to see the Hendrick Motorsports driver stop his car to shake his rival’s hand, and went on to say, “I thought he was pissed at him lol.”

Despite Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott swapping paint while battling for the lead, there were no hard feelings between either of them when the race concluded. Acknowledging the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s humility to patiently wait for his rival on the track, a motorsports enthusiast dismissed a popular narrative by saying, “4x clash winner congratulating a first time clash winner but the fans will turn it the other way and say denny always wanting the spotlight.”