
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 11, 2023; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Mar 11, 2023; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
During a recent episode of Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin spoke about the impact of driver rivalries. This is probably a reference to his own feud with Ross Chastain, which has flared up pretty often.
The conversation was more or less a discussion about Kyle Busch’s rant about a lack of respect between the NASCAR drivers. The new Richard Childress Racing driver also alluded to an incident during the Xfinity Series race at Phoenix. As it happened, he had a coming together with Chandler Smith on the final lap of the race.

via Imago
L: Denny Hamlin. R: Kyle Busch. Image Credits: Imago.
Hamlin mentioned on his podcast, “We’re all fighting for track position, but I agree. He [Kyle Busch] even mentioned his son, even in the short track ranks, they have a black flag for a reason.”
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“Like, if they see intentional contact, I talked about it after the clash. All it takes for NASCAR to black flag one person for going out and sending somebody into a corner.”
“Obviously sending them into a corner, and spinning them out on purpose. For them to reel back what we’re seeing on the weekends.”
WATCH THIS STORY: Kyle Busch Reveals How His Son Brexton Did a Kyle Larson Last Year
Denny Hamlin Hopes NASCAR Does Not Interfere Too Much in Rivalries
The Joe Gibbs Racing star knew that some of the issues need to be fixed. However, he is not exactly holding his breath because he hopes to see the drivers sort things out between themselves. When Kyle Busch spoke about respect between drivers, he declared that he often tried to talk to other drivers.
Sadly, his concerns were usually ignored, and it would be back to square one.
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via Imago
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Qualifying Feb 15, 2023 Daytona Beach, Florida, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 11 during qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Daytona International Speedway Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMikexDinovox 20230215_mcd_ad4_172
He continued, “Maybe fixing some of this what Kyle’s talking about. I don’t think we’re ever going to see it. I don’t want them getting involved in any more balls and strikes calls as it is.
“Let’s just leave that one as it is and we’ll just fight it out on pit road when we need to. We haven’t even got to the weekend yet, but those were the comments that Kyle said on Friday.”
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At the moment, Hamlin and all of his contemporaries will be waiting for the next race. In the coming week, the paddock makes landfall at the Circuit of The Americas in Texas.
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