Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson have always been adversaries on the racetrack, much of it due to their standing as two of the best drivers in NASCAR.
But in recent weeks, the two have come together on a handful of occasions, creating some tense moments. During Stage 2 at Iowa, it was Hamlin, a lap down at the time, running into the back of Larson’s rear while the Hendrick Motorsports driver was leading the race. Then came this past Sunday’s race at New Hampshire, when the two were banging doors racing for position before the expected severe weather came through.
You might say that Hamlin and Larson are developing a rivalry of sorts on the racetrack, though the Joe Gibbs Racing driver disagrees. Speaking on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast Monday, Hamlin denied there’s a rivalry between he and Larson, chalking it up to two competitors not giving each other an inch.
“It’s two guys racing each other hard for the win,” Hamlin said. “Now at Iowa, that was not racing for the win. I was a lap down and miscalculated the middle of the corner. I screwed up. But this week was unintended contact to start. I don’t know where the first one started. I definitely left him enough room off Turn 4 but nor here nor there. I’m trying to get clear and he’s hanging on the right rear. And it’s like I need three inches to clear here. But he’s trying to hang on and I get it, so he’s trying to get the best finish.
“Unfortunately, the crappy part about it is by him trying to hang on the right rear right there, it did cost him more spots in that one moment because at that point, I’m done screwing around with a car that I can’t see. They’re barely hanging on back there. And when I drive in deep, he drives in deep to stay on the right rear and not let me clear. Like, we’re just holding each other up here. I’d love to sit here and play grab-ass with you, but I can’t, it’s time to go. It’s just two drivers not giving each other an inch. And one inch would let the other clear and there would be no contact at that point.
“It’s not [a rivalry]. I like Kyle and listen, just watch the race and we all do this to each other all the time. I don’t know why there’s an emphasis, is it because we’re up front all the time? Maybe that’s it, but the 5 and 12 [Ryan Blaney] ran each other up the racetrack. It’s racing, it’s short-track racing — get over it.”
Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson heading in opposite directions after New Hampshire
As for whether Larson and his team considers it a rivalry, Hamlin simply does not care.
“I don’t care whether they do or don’t,” Hamlin said.
Neither Hamlin nor Larson found their way to Victory Lane at New Hampshire. Hamlin faded during the wet weather tire portion of the race while Larson couldn’t quite keep pace with eventual race winner Christopher Bell in the closing laps. Hamlin finished P24, while Larson took home fourth.
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