Tempers flared after a wild finish in Nashville, as Denny Hamlin voiced his frustration in a fiery response to Team Penske following Ryan Blaneyâs dramatic win. The heated moment came after a daring green flag pit stop strategy by Team Penske that appeared to catch Hamlin and others off guardâultimately costing him the lead and setting off a wave of post-race controversy.
According to Hamlin, the pit stopâexecuted during a particularly chaotic stretch under green flag conditionsâwas not just risky but, in his view, borderline deceptive. The veteran driver accused Team Penske of using a confusing interpretation of race rules to their advantage, suggesting they âtrickedâ him and others into reacting late or making the wrong move.
Visibly irritated, Hamlin didnât hold back when speaking to reporters. He directed a sharp, eight-word jab at Team Penske that summed up his feelings: âThey knew what they were doingâtotally unfair play.â While he stopped short of demanding penalties, his comments made clear he felt the strategy undermined fair competition.
The controversy revolves around a NASCAR rule that allows for green flag pit stops under certain timing conditionsârules Hamlin believes were exploited in a way that left rival teams unprepared. Meanwhile, Blaney and Team Penske maintained that their actions were within regulations and simply a product of smart racing and situational awareness.
As the dust settles, NASCAR fans are split. Some see Penskeâs move as clever racecraft; others back Hamlinâs claim that it crossed a line. One thing is certain: this feud is far from over, and the rivalry just got a lot more intense.
