In the wake of clinching victory at the legendary Pocono race, Denny Hamlin seized his monumental 50th NASCAR triumph overall with an astounding 7th triumph at Pocono, a record unparalleled in the annals of NASCAR history. Nonetheless, amidst this momentous achievement, the unfortunate collision with Kyle Larson left him unable to savor the triumph to its fullest, casting a shadow over his euphoria. He encountered a whirlwind of emotions and publicity within a mere week.

But the saga is far from reaching its conclusion. In a recent candid conversation with Large Barstool and Dan DiOrio at Rubbin is Racing, Denny Hamlin shed further light on what led him to edge near Kyle Larson’s left door on the track and how an insider’s persuasive ultimatum swayed his actions. While some may perceive it as yet another attempt at justification, this time there’s a glimmer of rationale in his account.

“Find a way,” urged Denny Hamlin’s trusted confidant

While discussing the famed Pocono race, Denny Hamlin highlighted that critics and media outlets labeled him a hypocrite for handling his emotions differently than the times he reacts when Ross Chastain or Chase Elliott vandalizes him. He openly admitted that he reacted differently because these are entirely distinct scenarios.

Naturally, when a driver is wrecked and their race is prematurely ended, feelings of helplessness and anguish are bound to overwhelm them. However, when you cause a wreck to secure a victory, it’s a different situation altogether, and this reaction stems from basic human nature, as everyone harbors such emotions.

Denny Hamlin shared a story from his recent podcast where he expressed his intense desire to achieve that monumental 50th NASCAR race win and how he decided to ramp up his aggression to attain it. His crew chief, Chris Gabehart, recognized this burning hunger within him and presented him with an ultimatum to find a way to secure that crucial victory.

Denny Hamlin recalled the moment his crew chief imparted the challenge just before the green flag, “It’s the most wins on this track; it’s your 50th; it’s the Toyota 600. Find a way.“ An epiphany struck Gabehart when he saw Kyle veering up the race track. He pushed Denny Hamlin and exclaimed, “Oh, sh*t, I found a way!” and prompted Hamlin to go and grab the opportunity as soon as possible while Kyle Larson was still up on the track.

Although this may not entirely justify the actions in the eyes of NASCAR fans, it is undeniable that aggressive driving and wrecking have become a prevailing trend. Furthermore, Denny Hamlin delved into why he denied making contact with Kyle Larson’s car and speculated on what might have caused the latter’s vehicle to veer straight into the outside fence.

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Did Denny Hamlin just brush off touching Kyle Larson’s car despite the viral video showing the wreck?

During the discussion about the incident, Large Barstool queried Denny Hamlin about the dash cam footage from Kevin Harvick’s car, which clearly indicates contact between Kyle Larson’s and Denny’s cars. To this, Denny suggested that some “aero” force might have come between the cars, causing Larson’s car to veer sharply to the right. Could it be an optical illusion—a possibility worth considering?

In response to the question, Denny Hamlin pointed out that people tend to search for reasons to justify their anger. He also made it clear that he didn’t forcibly nudge Kyle up the race track, and if there was any contact, it was merely a touch. According to him, the ultimate proof lies in the fact that his own car remained unscathed.

Furthermore, he implored everyone to see the situation from his perspective as well, through his dash camera’s lens. As Kyle moved up the race track, his thoughts were laser-focused: “I got to get clear, and I’ve got to get clear now.”

In the end, it seems like another attempt by Denny Hamlin to rationalize his actions. And to some degree, he might have succeeded. Has he? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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