Excitement is reaching its peak as the crowd is still buzzing about the thrilling playoff opener at Darlington last week. A race that lived up to the hype, serving as a perfect follow-up to the action-packed regular-season finale at Daytona. With two incredible races in the rearview mirror, all eyes are now firmly fixed on Kansas, and the expectations are sky-high.

What’s fueling the anticipation for the Kansas race? Social media is abuzz with throwback posts, reminiscing about the epic moments that have unfolded on this track. One standout memory is the fiery showdown between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson last year, reminiscent of the Pocono shenanigans that had everyone talking earlier this season.

Deja vu in Kansas as Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson’s tense history is revisited

In 2023, the Tricky Triangle lived up to its name with an intense finish that left the fans divided. Victory Lane saw a triumphant driver celebrating his 50th career win, but it was far from a hero’s welcome. The chorus of boos rained down on the driver, reflecting the drama that had unfolded on the track. The disappointment in the Hendrick Motorsports garage was palpable. The win had been within Larson’s grasp, and the team had tasted victory only to have it cruelly snatched away.

The culprit behind this heartbreaking twist was none other than Denny Hamlin, who pulled off a bold and aggressive move with just seven laps to go. Hamlin’s daring maneuver pushed Larson up the track and into the unforgiving outer wall. What makes this incident even more intriguing is the history between the two drivers. Larson and Hamlin share a friendship that adds an extra layer of plot to their on-track battles.

This eerily similar moment harkens back to last year at Kansas, when Hamlin executed another daring move on the final lap, passing Larson for the lead but initiating contact that sent Larson’s No. 5 car into the outer wall.

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After the race, Hamlin addressed the incident and said, “Yeah, I got position on him there, tried to side-draft him, and clipped his left rear. But I’m glad he was able to at least finish.”

Larson, on the other hand, expressed his frustration as he stated, I haven’t seen a replay, but obviously, he was side-drafting really aggressively, as he would. He was touching me, it felt like, and it had me really out of control. I wish we could have…”

Twitter turmoil as heated debate erupts over Kansas clash

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The NASCAR world recently found itself in the midst of a heated debate, all thanks to a tweet from the ‘NASCAR on NBC account. The tweet featured a short video clip of the dramatic finish at Kansas Speedway, accompanied by the caption, “OH, HE TURNED HIM!” What ensued was a resurgence of the age-old question: whose fault was the contact?

Opinions ran rampant, and NASCAR enthusiasts were quick to voice their thoughts on the matter. Some believed that the blame rested squarely on Larson’s shoulders; as one user put it, “Larson’s fault, unfortunately.” Others defended Hamlin, arguing, “Just raced Larson how he races others.”

However, not everyone was quick to absolve Hamlin of any wrongdoing. Some firmly believed that Hamlin bore responsibility for the collision, stating, “Hamlin’s fault.” The back-and-forth continued as fans dissected the incident from every angle. One fan offered a nuanced perspective, stating, “No, he did not turn him. Larson hit the wall and came across Hamlin’s nose. Denny did nothing wrong there.”

As the debate raged on, tempers flared, and emotions ran high. Some fans even resorted to colorful commentary to express their views, such as, “The Only Way Denny Two Fingers Hamlin Can Win A NASCAR Race, He’s Gotta Wreck Someone And Ruin Their Chance At Winning.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace Exposes Boss Denny Hamlin’s Black Lie In Pocono Feud

As the dust settles and the crowd flocks to Kansas this week, the anticipation is palpable. Kansas is primed to be a banger, and one opinion that fans across the NASCAR spectrum seem to agree on is that “payback is coming this weekend.”