“Same Move [Kyle Larson] Made to Bubba [Wallace]”: Denny Hamlin Defends His Controversial Move Against the HMS Star

Despite acing the 2.5-mile track at Pocono, picking up his 7th win at the track, NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin was booed unapologetically by a packed crowd in the stands when he got out of his Toyota. While the Toyotas reigned the top 3 spots at the Superspeedway, with both the veteran Joe Gibbs Racing drivers finishing first and third, the crowd wasn’t having any of it.

The controversial ending clearly angered fans. Hamlin’s late tussle with HMS star Kyle Larson took them a year back when Hamlin got Ross Chastain up the track and into the wall.

While both incidents have different backstories, the similarities are undeniably noticeable as Hamlin got both Larson and Chastain up the track, giving them a slight nudge into the wall. However, with the NASCAR nation expressing their displeasure with Hamlin vividly on track, Hamlin being the outspoken guy he is, cleaned his name, mocking Larson, and mentioning his altercation with Bubba Wallace.

Denny Hamlin shoots back at Kyle Larson, defending his driver

Well, the relationship between Hamlin and Larson might not be tarnished, but there certainly seems to be some bad blood between them. And what is the cause of this rift, you ask? With 7 laps to go following a late restart, the #5 Chevy was in the lead, closely tailed by Hamlin, looking for an opportunity to spear ahead.

Eyeing his second win of the season, the 42-year-old veteran soldiered on, snatching the lead from the #5 as they went side by side into the turn. With both the cars going full-tilt, the #5 came wide into turn 1 and was led into the wall for a bump almost the same way Hamlin led Chastain into the wall last year.

While Chastain went on to finish the race, Hamlin was disqualified after NASCAR found modified parts on the JGR Toyota, handing the win to third-finisher, Chase Elliott. This time though, Larson did not just sit by, raged by Hamlin’s theatrics, Larson confronted him during the caution, bumping the #11 Toyota into the wall, expressing his anger.

With the Hendrick Motorsports driver livid about Hamlin giving him the door and taking the win, like what he did at Kansas earlier this year, the drama was about to unfold after the race as Larson called out Hamlin for his action. Amid all this, Hamlin shot back at Larson mentioning his altercation with his driver, Wallace in Las Vegas last year.

A reporter asked him in the post-race press conference at Pocono, “Larson said, he felt like it was kind of the same move you did to Chastain last year.”

Hamlin simply shrugged it off while he returned fire, saying, “Same move he made to Bubba. Did he mention that or no?”  With the veteran countering Larson’s remarks boldly, he also revealed his take on the last-minute fiasco.

READ MORE: “It Wasn’t Me”–Ross Chastain Throws Shade at Denny Hamlin as He Avoids the ‘Wreckage Spotlight’ at the Tricky Triangle

Hamlin gives his take while Larson licks his wounds after the controversial finish

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While the veteran Hamlin racked up his 50th Cup Series win at Pocono, the driver also brought Toyota’s 600th win. Though the proud Toyota camp had a dream race, with 5 of its drivers finishing in the top 10, fans mercilessly booed Hamlin because of the way he was racing with Larson, leaving them furious in the stands.

Welcoming all the negativity from the fans, Hamlin, as per RACER, stated, “Larson missed the corner first and evidently he didn’t have his right-side tires clean. You have an option in those positions. It’s either hold it wide-open and hit the fence or lift and race it out. That was a choice they made. I didn’t hit either one of them. I love it. I thought we had the best car, honestly. The strategy worked out well. I’m just really happy that we’re finally winning these races that we should win.” 

WATCH THIS STORY: Denny Hamlin warns Bubba Wallace to watch out amid creeping playoff desperation

As the veteran cleaned his name, justifying his action, Larson was indeed pissed as he finished the race in 20th despite winning stage 2.

Upset with Hamlin’s action, Larson took subtle jabs while stating, “I’m pissed.” The driver voiced his frustration, saying, “Whatever, you know he’s always right, all the buddies know, Denny is always right, so I’m sure he was in the right there as well but, it is what it is, I’m not gonna let it tarnish our friendship on-track but I’m pissed.”