In a Fresh Turn of Events, NASCAR Fans Agree With Denny Hamlin’s Call-Out of Hendrick Motorsports’ Le Mans Bias
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USA Today via Reuters
Mar 13, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) leads a group during the Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Last month, NASCAR announced an ambitious plan to enter a team into the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After all the hype and fanfare, some people began to read between the lines of the announcement. However, Denny Hamlin was the one to actually air the unasked questions. As it turned out, NASCAR would field a modified Next Gen Chevrolet in collaboration with Hendrick Motorsports.
Hamlin was pretty upset that the likes of Ford and Toyota were caught completely unaware of the plan. NASCAR CEO Jim France justified himself, insisting that Hendrick Motorsports is the most successful team. However, Hamlin was not convinced at all and had a different solution to this. Suffice to say, many fans agreed with the normally outspoken driver.
I do agree. Each manufacturer should have been approached. Not sure what made HMS / Chevy the magic combo. 🤷🏻♀️
Find it odd that France only approached HMS for this and no other manufacturer.— Taylor Kitchen (@_TaylorKitchen_) March 31, 2022
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Hate to say it, but I agree with Denny. Should’ve been a joint effort. Favoritism is being displayed
— Kris (@Kriswalker61) March 31, 2022
100% agree with him. Should send all 3 manufacturers.
— Muscan/ Alexandra Raptopoulou sorry. (@__muscan__) March 30, 2022
It’s in the story. pic.twitter.com/CugIrCIRtf
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) March 31, 2022
The general consensus was that the manufacturers were grossly under-represented. Like Hamlin, many would have preferred that Ford and Toyota also got a piece of the action. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver also raised a concern that Hendrick Motorsports could have an advantage. This is because, they would be able to have more time with the Next Gen car, allowing them to unlock more secrets.
via Getty
AVONDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 07: #9: Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro NAPA Auto Parts races #5: Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro HendrickCars.com during the NASCAR Cup Series championship race on November 7, 2021 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASCAR fans wondered if the sport was promoting Hendrick Motorsports
As per one Twitter response, “I have to agree with him. This seems less like NASCAR expanding into new motorsports markets and more like *Hendrick* expanding into them. NASCAR isn’t going to Le Mans to show off Hendrick; it’s to show off the car EVERY driver is using.”
I agree with what someone said here on Twitter.. A driver from each manufacturer should be chosen.
— Terri Quinn (@taireocuinn) March 30, 2022
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Denny spitting facts left and right
— DennyDeliversYT (@DennyDelivers) March 31, 2022
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Some fans also suggested that manufacturers choose drivers to represent them. They even insinuated that this was showing blatant favoritism to Hendrick Motorsports. Unfortunately, Jim France’s comments did not do much to deny such a claim either. He insisted that since Hendrick was the most successful team, they deserved to represent NASCAR at the iconic endurance race.
Denny Hamlin Raises Concern That NASCAR’s Le Mans Announcement Could Hand Hendrick Motorsports an Advantage
Written by:
Edited by:
Ankit Sharma
