Apart from the frequent wrecks and cautions, the 2023 HighPoint.com 400 race also treated the NASCAR community to lots of post-race drama. From Denny Hamlin denying bumping into Kyle Larson to Yung Money sending a warning to the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, the Tricky Triangle saw it all.
With debates raging regarding who was at fault, NASCAR insider Kenny Wallace has a thing or two to say.
Herman’s take on the Denny Hamlin – Kyle Larson tiff
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Shoving Kyle Larson into the wall during the last laps of the Pocono Cup Series race, Denny Hamlin stole the lead for the win. Driving down victory lane, the #11 JGR driver was met with loud boos from fans. While Hamlin denied having any contact with Kyle Larson’s #5 Chevy, fans on the internet even crowned Hamlin as a hypocritical liar. But Kenny Wallace disagrees with the fans’ stance.
"Both guys wrecked themselves."
Do you agree with @DennyHamlin? #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Z9m8c7tYj6
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 23, 2023
Speaking on his podcast, The Kenny Wallace Show, Herman revealed the real culprit behind Hamlin shoving the HMS driver into the wall. “Kyle Larson’s gonna win the race. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson going for the win last couple laps, that’s key here. What would you do to win a race? Well, I’d hold my lane.
“You think (Dale) Earnhardt would hold his lane? How many people has Dale Sr knocked out of the way to win a race? Now all of a sudden Denny Hamlin moved down and there was an air bubble here, and when Denny Hamlin got close to Kyle Larson, it pushed his air bubble and made Kyle Larson wreck.
“Now, I just told you what happened. We got this new thing in NASCAR because of the Next Gen car. It’s called an air bubble. ‘He didn’t hit me but there was air in between our cars and it blew my car into the wall, so it’s his fault because he got close to me’.
“My friends, I raced in an era where if they hit you in the b*tt and moved you out of the way then you couldn’t catch them, that meant you deserved it. I raced in an era if you were going into the corner for the win, they were gonna knock the hell out of you.”
“Now we got an air bubble. ‘He didn’t hit me, but that air bubble pushed me into the wall’. Now if we go back last year, Bubba Wallace on the outside of Kyle Larson, Kyle Larson doesn’t do anything wrong, but remember that air bubble? The air bubble pushed Bubba Wallace into the wall, same exact situation. So we have this new phrase in NASCAR called air bubble,” Kenny Wallace added, terming the air bubble as the real culprit.
Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin Confesses Having A Disagreement With JGR Member After Falling Victim To HMS Star
While Kenny Wallace sided with Denny Hamlin’s no-contact stance, Kyle Larson, on the other hand, believed it was time to earn back respect from his friend-turned-foe.
Kyle Larson speaks out on Denny Hamlin’s actions
Trending
Tony Stewart’s Wife Leah Pruett Pens a Heartfelt Message for Husband After His Unwavering Support for His Family
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Offers a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to His Loyal Fanbase as He Gears Up for His Return With Budweiser
JRM Prodigy & Kelley Earnhardt’s Son Earn Major Backing as Dale Jr.’s Loyal Partners Announce 2025 Return
“It Drives Like a Forklift” – Shane van Gisbergen Controversially Splits the Difference Between NASCAR’s Proud Next Gen and Xfinity Cars
Rick Hendrick’s Alliance Rumored to Save Chevy Prodigy Who Crashed Kyle Busch’s Party
During a post-race interview with Sirius XM’s Claire B. Lang, Kyle Larson pointed out how he didn’t pay back Denny Hamlin for his on-track actions. Heading off to Grandview Speedway for a Sprint Car race, Kyle Larson then joined FloRacing’s High Limit Room podcast to discuss the happenings at Pocono.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Denny Hamlin ran Ross Chastain up toward the wall last year…
He's done it now with Kyle Larson, so Larson got him back! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/LPrSv24OhN
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 23, 2023
“I’ve been spun off his front bumper many a times now, so yeah, I think eventually I have to get that respect back because I obviously don’t have it on his end,” Larson said insinuating his earlier ‘didn’t pay him back’ comment.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
With Kenny Wallace clearing the air on the Pocono debacle, will it be enough to clear Denny Hamlin’s culprit tag? Stay connected to find out.