Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson recently engaged in a heated rivalry at the Bristol Motor Speedway, which has become a focal point in NASCAR news. The tension peaked after Larson’s dominant win in the Sunday Cup Series race, where he prevented Hamlin from achieving a historic third consecutive victory at Bristol.
Hamlin revealed on the “Actions Detrimental” podcast that he had been rooting for Larson to complete a weekend sweep at Bristol, which would have included wins in the Truck, Xfinity, and Cup races. However, after hearing Larson’s post-race comments, Hamlin expressed frustration and was glad that Larson did not sweep all three races. Larson had stated that he was proud to stop Hamlin’s three-peat, saying, “We hate to see him win, as I’m sure you guys do too,” which Hamlin took as a slight and responded with a curse, thanking former Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) star Chandler Smith for beating Larson in the Truck race and thus preventing the sweep.
Kyle Larson’s performance at Bristol was exceptional. He led 411 of 500 laps in the Cup race, securing his third career win at the track. Larson also dominated the Saturday Xfinity race, leading 277 of 300 laps for his 16th career Xfinity victory. Despite his strong showing, Larson did not lead any laps in the Truck race, finishing second behind Chandler Smith, who led 127 of 250 laps.
Larson’s post-race interview on FOX Sports included a playful jab at Hamlin, where he acknowledged the difficulty of passing Hamlin but celebrated stopping his three-peat. Larson dedicated his win to Jon Edwards, Hendrick Motorsports’ director of racing communications, who had recently passed away. He described the race as “flawless” and praised his No. 5 team for their performance, highlighting the fun and comfort he felt during the race despite the pressure from Hamlin late in the event.
Hamlin, while disappointed, acknowledged Larson’s superiority in the race. In a YouTube race review, Hamlin admitted that Larson was better at navigating traffic and had a faster car that day. He described his own strategy of breaking the race into parts and setting new goals as he tried to catch Larson but ultimately fell short. Hamlin also commented on the challenges of passing at Bristol, attributing it to track temperature and tire issues, which have been a recurring problem at the venue.
The rivalry between Hamlin and Larson at Bristol highlights the competitive nature of NASCAR and the challenges drivers face on short tracks with Next Gen cars. While Larson’s dominance sparked debate about the entertainment value and competitiveness of races at Bristol, both drivers delivered strong performances that captivated fans. Chandler Smith’s role in preventing Larson’s sweep added another layer to the weekend’s drama, showcasing the depth of talent across NASCAR’s different series.
In summary, the Bristol weekend was marked by Kyle Larson’s commanding victories in the Xfinity and Cup races, his pointed remarks about stopping Denny Hamlin’s three-peat, and Hamlin’s candid reaction expressing both respect and frustration. Chandler Smith’s win in the Truck race prevented Larson from sweeping all three events, adding to the narrative of intense competition and rivalry at one of NASCAR’s most iconic tracks. This story continues to resonate with fans and analysts as they discuss the future of racing at Bristol and the dynamics between top drivers like Larson and Hamlin.
