Securing his 50th career win at the Pocono Raceway last weekend, Denny Hamlin couldn’t have possibly predicted the controversy and drama that followed. Criticized for his final stage run-in with Kyle Larson, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver was met with loud boos at Pocono’s victory lane. Hamlin was then subjected to tons of online slander, even being crowned a hypocritical liar by angry fans.

Having faced the brunt of the entire NASCAR community, Kyle Larson even warned Hamlin about unfinished business, severing the friendly ties with his old pal. Tired of the accusations and drama, Denny Hamlin has now revealed the real factor behind his on-track aggression.

Who does Denny Hamlin blame?

Overtaking Kyle Larson on the inside line during the final laps of the HighPoint.com 400 Cup Series race at Pocono, Denny Hamlin drove up the track, running the #5 car into the outer wall. Post-race in victory lane, the #11 Toyota denied making contact with Larson’s #5 Chevy, even claiming that the Hendrick Motorsports driver wrecked himself. Now speaking out about the incidents at Pocono, Hamlin has shoved the blame on NASCAR’s racing evolution for his on-track aggressive maneuvers.

Speaking Large Barstool and Spider on the Rubbin Is Racing podcast, Hamlin discussed the Pocono incident, saying, “I don’t expect competitors to like it, because I’ve been on the other end of it, and I’ve hated it. And people talk all the time about, ‘Well you’re a hypocrite, because you yell at Ross Chastain for wrecking you, and yell at Chase Elliott for wrecking you, but yet when you do it, it’s fine.’

“Wait a minute, I was on the sh*t end of those deals, of course, I have a certain kind of feeling about it. When you’re on the winning end of it you feel a little differently. Now it’s very different when, you know, if someone hooks you in the right rear or flat out just wipes you out from behind in a rubbing or a air situation at the end of a race for the win, like, it is different, you will not convince me otherwise.” 

Claiming how NASCAR’s racing evolution forced his hand at Pocono, Denny Hamlin said, “But of course, there’s gonna be different feelings depending on what side you’re on. Everyone feels that way. So you’re always going to see a different reaction when people have it done to them, versus when they do it. But I’ve been used up enough by this type of driving that I’ve realized I must adapt or die because three times over the last three years I’ve been in the lead and got wiped out. And I’ve just said well this is clearly the way that racing is going nowadays and I must adapt my style to be more aggressive.”

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While Denny Hamlin put forth his justification for fencing Kyle Larson at Pocono, Larson on the other hand was seeing red at the Cook-Out 400 Cup Series race at Richmond.

Kyle Larson steps up to his payback warning

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One wouldn’t normally consider HMS’ #5 driver to be of the vengeful kind, but his tango with Denny Hamlin at Pocono was the last straw. Prior to the Cook Out 400 Cup Series race at Richmond, Kyle Larson on his High Limit Room podcast claimed he would race Hamlin differently.

Sticking to his comments, Larson had Hamlin in his sight during the final stage of the Cook Out 400. Approaching a turn, the #5 HMS driver then proceeded to bump the rear of the #11 Toyota, effectively shoving Denny Hamlin to the outside lane while completing an overtake maneuver. Although Hamlin managed to keep his car under control after the bump, the incident made it clear that Larson wouldn’t mind getting his hands dirty.

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What are your views on Denny Hamlin blaming NASCAR’s racing evolution for his on-track aggression? Let us know in the comments.