The Kansas Speedway night was electric. In the 2025 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas, Chase Elliott edged out Denny Hamlin in a thriller, but Hamlin still owned the headlines, leading the field for 159 laps, putting in one of the fastest cars, and nearly took it all. For a guy who’s chasing 60 wins and the elusive title, Kansas was another “what if” moment. In post-race comments, Hamlin called it “super disappointing,” noting that his team had given him everything he needed, but one late move cost him the win. That Kansas performance framed how Hamlin was hungry, sharp, and ready, and maybe a little impatient with anything off-track that distracts.

Before the showdown, driver introductions that night felt like a stage play with hidden subtext. On social media, clips of the intros showed Hamlin ignoring Mamba Smith, with no eye contact and no acknowledgement, as if Smith didn’t exist in that moment.

That silence carried weight, as one fan wrote on X, “Here’s a video of Denny Hamlin ignoring Mamba Smith during driver introductions. I like @MambaSmith34 idea. Let’s get these two on the same podcast, and figure out their differences! Whether Denny comes to the Happy Hour Pod or Mamba going over to Actions, this needs to happen.” This intentional avoidance, with no handshake or greeting, spoke of something more deliberate.

Tensions boiled over, leaving fans confused as Mamba Smith replied to the comment, writing, “I would do it.” But this isn’t the first time they’ve bickered in public or exchanged shots. Smith’s post on X stated famously, “the point isn’t to crown the best driver. It’s to crown the best team who executed the best when the pressure was at its highest.” 

That line struck a nerve, as Hamlin pushed back hard on his podcast Actions Detrimental, calling Smith’s take “bulls–t” and arguing that luck plays too big a role and that the “lights-brightest” justification is too tidy a PR talking point. Smith didn’t back down. He challenged Hamlin to a live debate, saying, “you can come right here on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast … or I can come to you. … I’m down,” something that fans think might have added to the tension during the driver’s introductions.

These echoed back to a moment at Daytona where Smith had faked a handshake: at the last second, he drew his hand back and wiped his forehead. Hamlin responded sarcastically, “You’re so cool, bro. Don’t let the ratios get to you.” Later at Darlington, Smith said he didn’t think Hamlin “wanted the smoke,” claiming that he observed Hamlin standing right in front of him, but perhaps choosing not to engage. So what feels like a clash over on-stage ignorance is really the latest chapter in a developing story.

Now, fans are calling for confrontation. Social media blew up after Kansas‘ driver intros, as many saw Hamlin’s cold shoulder and Smith’s challenge as theatrical bait. This isn’t just about a snubbed greeting, but about respect.

Denny Hamlin’s cold shoulder sparks heated reactions

One fan’s jab, “Let me get this straight – you do a childish move on him in a previous driver intro and now think he doesn’t like you?” takes us back to the Daytona incident. Hamlin didn’t let it slide, and neither did his fans, as he later taunted Smith on X, writing, “Make sure you get it right when you say my name.” That is a stark reminder that Mamba’s own theatrics may have laid the groundwork for Hamlin’s apparent reticence.

Another fan asked, “Mamba…is this a recent beef or do you guys just not care for each other?” Even after Smith doubled down on his controversial NASCAR playoff-format take, saying, “the point isn’t to crown the best driver… it’s to crown the best team,” Hamlin stepped into the public fray with a terse “Oh man, yikes” on social media. Together, those exchanges suggest the tension is long-standing, not born overnight, and that there may always have been a bit of mutual friction and carefully measured distance between them.

Some fans added, “If not I’ll write and record a Denny Diss track and get him fired up hehe I did mention his great run at Dover on a record recently though…” Hamlin recently claimed his second straight win at Dover in July 2025 after surviving two overtimes, pushing his career total there and marking a turning point in how he’s viewed at the “Monster Mile.” And in this case, lacing a diss track with a nod to Dover not only flatters the target but frames the fan’s mock rivalry as one with some legitimacy.

One fan’s sly nod stood out, saying, “Maybe they could retitled Denny’s show “Door, Door, Clear”? ;)” as it lands as more than snarky wordplay when viewed through the lens of Hamlin’s dramatic duel with Bubba Wallace in the same race. On the final lap, Hamlin made a deep dive into Turn 3, essentially “dooring” Wallace, pushing the No. 23 into the wall and costing both drivers momentum, which allowed Chase Elliott to slip by for the win.

Finally, another fan added, “DH such a tough guy to figure out. One week I listen to him, I’m like, hey I’m kind of starting to like this guy, then the next week I’m like damnit Denny that’s some dumb shit. love him or hate him, NASCAR needs a compelling character like him. It won’t be as fun without him.” This incident is just one example of Hamlin’s complex relationship with fans. Another instance is his outspoken critiques of NASCAR’s Next Gen car and playoff system, which have sparked debates among fans and analysts alike.

Despite the controversies, Hamlin’s consistent performance on the track has solidified his status as a formidable competitor. And his unspoken debates with Mamba Smith are just another aspect of being a compelling character, keeping NASCAR’s drama alive.