A lot can change in a year. Just last year, Ryan Blaney was hurled into perhaps the deepest slump in his career highlighted by a 59-race winless drought. Fast forward to May 2023, an emotionally charged Blaney rejoiced at his fans cheering, “Blaney! Blaney'” from the grandstands, moments after he had won the Coca-Cola 600 at the ROVAL. And that was perhaps the cue for him to pick himself up and dust himself off for his first Championship 4 appearance just a few months later.

On the other hand, the playoff rumble for Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin hasn’t been very picturesque considering how close he was to winning and still fell short. Arguably, the 23XI co-owner has been one of the most consistent athletes this year, but there’s always something that dooms the 42-year-old’s quest for the title. And this time at Martinsville, it came down to a neck-to-neck battle. What’s more interesting is Hamlin’s take on the incident that transpired during his duel.

Denny Hamlin points fingers at Blaney’s seemingly deliberate antics

The next-gen car doesn’t really run that well on the short tracks. And one of the reasons is the lack of space. The Gen-7 stock car needs an ample amount of space to veer up and down the track, to catch hold of the most suitable groove in order to make speed. And when 40 cars run at full throttle, trying to pass one another, on a short track, it’s just natural that a commotion will take place.

Sunday’s Xfinity 500 wasn’t an exception. However, as Denny Hamlin gathered all his might and prepared every trick that he had up his sleeve to grab the win, Ryan Blaney’s Ford Mustang birthed the greatest hurdle. And that, according to Denny Hamlin, was a game that Blaney had played in order to hold off the 7-time Pocono wizard, who was, as a result, forced to settle for a 3rd place finish.

In the latest installment of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin told his co-host and longtime friend Jared Allen that although it was Denny who nicked Blaney, it was Blaney who had made it happen. Of course, Blaney didn’t blame Hamlin on the in-car radio, but Hamlin just wouldn’t let it slide without commenting on it first.

Hamlin said, “Blaney hit the brakes. What he was trying to do and you know, he’s playing the game…he knew I was trying to get in a hole behind him, so he hit the brakes and let off the gas to try to keep me on the outside that way, somebody would come pass me.”

Hence, there was no option but for Denny Hamlin to slow down. And he did, nudging Blaney in the process.

“So I slowed down to get down, he slowed down even more so I can’t cross over and yeah, I nicked him because he wasn’t running straightaway speed, he slowed down to make that happen,” added Hamlin.

Nevertheless, when Denny Hamlin fired the shots at the Team Penske icon, the fans didn’t take it easy on the JGR sensation. And before long, spiteful comments flooded the journalist’s tweet after he made the comment by Denny Hamlin public.

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Fans bashed Denny Hamlin saying Ryan Blaney has got in his head

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The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi wrote on X, “”If he wants to play games, we can play games. I’m the one who’s got nothing to lose,” crediting the quote to Denny Hamlin.

The fans pulled no punches, spelling the reality out to Denny Hamlin. One of them explained how Denny Hamlin has just a few years left in his career while, Ryan Blaney had his entire life ahead of him to get more shots at a championship title. So perhaps Denny Hamlin was the one who had a lot to lose.

On that note, someone wrote, “You do have more to lose. Probably your last chance to win a championship. Blaney has his whole career ahead of him.”

Another commented, “Denny has a lot to lose.”

“Sounds like Blaney is in his head,” wrote a Hamlin hater.

Another motorsport enthusiast felt like it was something that the #11 pilot had started and typed, “Hamlin already starting nonsense over something he started.”

Another user rebuked Hamlin saying, “All bark, zero bite”

“Hamlin can’t stand it because he does not have a Champion. I bet it keeps him awake at night,” exclaimed one.

Read more: Denny Hamlin Takes a Mean Jab At His Championship Drought As NASCAR Insider Hopes to “Eventually Get it Right”

With that, Denny Hamlin’s hopes to grab his first Cup Series title in his 18-year-long career with Joe Gibbs Racing remain unfulfilled. Nevertheless, he’s not done yet. Knowing the driver Hamlin is, derogatory comments like these would probably fuel him. Let’s just hope he bounces back stronger and brings out his A-game in the upcoming season.