“They Can Interpret It However They Want” – Denny Hamlin on “The Most Detrimental Thing” Killing NASCAR Right Now

Denny Hamlin‘s whole penalty, the penalty appeal, and now the penalty appeal result have turned out to be pretty dramatic. Hamlin was handed a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty for his late-race incident with Ross Chastain in Phoenix. The incident flew under the radar until Hamlin himself spoke about it the day after on his podcast show, which attracted NASCAR’s attention, and led to the penalty.

Essentially, it was Hamlin’s own words and not the actions that got proved to be detrimental to him.

But the fact that the result of his appeal didn’t come out in his favor has Hamlin convinced that it could lead to far more severe consequences for the culture in NASCAR.

Denny Hamlin on the scariest aspect of his penalty fiasco

Speaking in an ‘Emergency’ episode of his podcast show, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin opened up on the “most detrimental thing” for the drivers in the recent light of things, a sentiment which Dale Earnhardt Jr’s co-host also echoed.

“You can’t be yourselves.’ I heard Mike Davis talking about this on Dirty Mo Live shortly after, but it’s so true,” Hamlin claimed.

He revealed how William Byron has decided to not appear on any podcasts from now on considering how saying “the wrong thing” can lead one into “a bad position.”

“Now, you don’t even have to say, ‘I crashed Ross.’ You can just vaguely say it, and they can interpret it however they want,” Hamlin described. “That’s what scary right?”

WATCH THIS STORY: “Nothing Has Changed” – Denny Hamlin & Dale Earnhardt Jr. Break Their Silence as NASCAR Drops a Massive Bombshell

Hamlin claims NASCAR using him as an example could come back to haunt them

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Hamlin further claimed that he thinks there’s a “star problem” in NASCAR today. Having said that, he argued that he isn’t trying to be one, but rather he is just trying to be “honest and transparent.”

“I’m trying to do what others are not doing and that’s being themselves. Because a lot of these guys, awesome dudes, but NASCAR using me as an example will inhibit them, or prevent them for wanting to come out of their shell and sometimes be controversial and sometimes call out a rival,” he described.

The veteran driver termed all of this as “crazy” considering in NASCAR’s two-page report, they have claimed, “We encourage drivers to self-police.’ How can you self-police and not manipulate the race? It is impossible.”

“I can’t go and punch him in the face. Because that’s a fine,” he added.

“I don’t understand.”

Also Read: “Manipulated the Finish” – After Shocking Penalty Verdict, Denny Hamlin Relies on the “Intent” Defense While Disclosing NASCAR’s Official Charges Against Him