
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, races during the qualifying heat for the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, races during the qualifying heat for the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
To nobody’s surprise, Denny Hamlin was absolutely pumped after winning his first race of the season in front of his home crowd. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver finally got some positive momentum as he shook off the absolute horror of the season he was having, by his own standards, before the weekend in Richmond.
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However, Hamlin celebrating so enthusiastically, as he got on top of his Toyota at the start-finish line, might’ve led him to some trouble in NASCAR’s books. At least that’s what NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass assumed.
Tech is complete. No issues. Hamlin is the winner. The Truex and Suarez cars to R&D center for further inspection.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 4, 2022
“Tech is complete. No issues. Hamlin is the winner. The Truex and Suarez cars to R&D center for further inspection,” Pockrass tweeted after the race.
Later, a fan replied to his tweet with a video from behind the fence of the race winner climbing on top of his FedEx Camry and celebrating. This was something which Pockrass seems to have mistaken as the fan suggesting whether Hamlin will be penalized for this.
Obviously NASCAR is never thrilled when a driver gets on top of the car but they don't want to stifle emotion. If they view it as a major issue, they'll put a stop to it. It wasn't like he jumped up and down on the roof. https://t.co/EOv1HF8cOL
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 4, 2022
As a result, the journalist replied, “Obviously NASCAR is never thrilled when a driver gets on top of the car but they don’t want to stifle emotion. If they view it as a major issue, they’ll put a stop to it. It wasn’t like he jumped up and down on the roof.”
“Wasn’t meant to be like that. Im a Denny fan & I just wanted to show my video that I took of him celebrating,” the fan replied.
Regardless, Pockrass cleared the air for anyone who was wondering.
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Denny Hamlin and team have got “it” to shift the momentum this season
In his post-race interview, Denny Hamlin commended his team’s “great strategy” as he mentioned the “never giving up” attitude.
“There was no doubt in my mind, maybe just a little, but they got this car right there towards the end,” he said.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 26: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
As for how this win would affect their season going forward from Richmond, Denny Hamlin said, “We needed a data point, something, a good run to kind of balance ourselves on other tracks.”
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“Obviously, I think we got it here.”
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