EXCLUSIVE: “Denny’s Got a Point,” Ryan Vargas Sides With the JGR Star, Claims Dominance Is a Myth in NASCAR

Whispers of more horsepower and greater “parity” have been growing louder with each passing day, thanks to Denny Hamlin’s back-and-forths with NASCAR. And now, the Whelen Euro Series has its newest, vocal, full-time American advocate, the two-time Wendell Scott Trailblazer award-winner, Ryan Vargas.

It is safe to say the Xfinity star and soon-to-be European road course ringer has steered the V8s in all kinds of configurations already, but this new challenge across the pond begs the all-familiar question one more time. How does he feel about the “parity” debate? In an Exclusive interview with Essentially Sports, Ryan Vargas bared it all for the fans.

Ryan Vargas’ Double Take on Denny Hamlin

He echoed Hamlin’s belief, iterating, “Yeah, I think Denny definitely has a point with what he’s saying and I think he’s absolutely right. You know, there is that line that we’re very much playing with…”

During his Exclusive with EssentiallySports, Ryan Vargas also tossed the coin over to show the flipside as well, he said, “But in that same token as well, when you do have that (discussion), you look at the overall competitiveness of the NASCAR Cup Series right now. You don’t know who’s gonna win every race anymore, the last few years. “ The last 10 years have seen the Bill France Cup get passed around amongst 9 drivers.

He went on to justify himself, as he said, “I mean, you look at 2017 it was like almost death, taxes, and Martin Truex Jr sweeping the stages. You know, in 2021 you had Kyle Larson winning… what was it? 10… 11 races? You don’t see that anymore.“ Vargas told Essentially Sports Fancast.

He is a development director for his team, 3F Racing, and also the driver of its #30 Chevy Camaro, and holds a very unique lens to things, and that’s why when he referred to fellow Chevy driver Kyle Larson’s Vegas victory to point out the most recent “disparity,”  he had the whole room’s attention.

Vargas began, “You don’t see guys go out and dominate anymore. I mean, we’re talking about how Kyle Larson dominated Vegas, but he didn’t lead every lap. He didn’t go out there and spank the field, and then frankly wasn’t a far gap of a finish you know. Tyler Reddick was right on his rear bumper.” 

“A Really, Really Good Spot” for NASCAR in 2024

The 23-year-old put his points through perfectly in the Essentially Sports Exclusive, as he went on to admit that “there’s definitely issues to address with these cars.” However, if the fans look at the bigger picture, “they will see that “it’s not all doom and gloom.“

Without even having to be questioned over his resonating thoughts, the bright-eyed California native concluded this topic of discussion with another apt comparison as he said, “You look at the Cup Series, “while it’s elbows-out racing and you never know who’s gonna win and I think it’s super unique.” 

Ryan Vargas was right yet again. Only NASCAR can provide a “unique” experience the way it has over 7 different decades. And as he gears up for his first Euro race at Valencia in the second week of April, with sponsors Critical Path Security supporting his journey with shared interests, The #30 believes we truly are “in a really, really good spot in the sport.”

Read More: EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Vargas Claims He “Needed Something Different” as He Dissects the Colossal Euro Series Opportunity