Denny Hamlin: “NASCAR believes the show will go on with or without you, and I don’t necessarily believe that is as true today as it used to be”
Two weeks ago, Kyle Larson missed the Coca-Cola 600 to run the Indy 500. It wasn’t the intended plan as weather pushed back the start of the Indycar race and rain also ended the Coca-Cola 600 short.
Ahead of that race, Larson was the point leader. Now, after missing a race, Larson sits second in the standings but he’s no longer eligable for playoff competition.
Indy 500 Results: May 26, 2024 (Indycar Series)
Charlotte Results: May 26, 2024 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Last week, Hendrick Motorsports requested a waiver for Larson to remain in the playoffs. A ruling has not been announced of a waiver.
On his podcast, Denny Hamlin stated that NASCAR has operated with the mindset that the show will go on, with or without the star drivers. However, he notes that may no longer be the case.
Note that these comments come during a time when NASCAR is actively negotiating with teams regarding a new charter agreement. Without an agreement, tensions are high between the teams and NASCAR. RTA teams could essentially start a new series, without NASCAR.
NASCAR comments on a waiver for Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin comments on Kyle Larson’s waiver situation
“I need to think carefully about how I word this, and it isn’t going to [come across right] for sure, but I feel as though they get offended very easily,” Hamlin stated of NASCAR via his Actions Detrimental podcast of the sanctioning body.
“They are very sensitive people.”
“They believe they are the show in the U.S. and if you participate in NASCAR, you shouldn’t participate in anything else. And I just think they don’t like playing second fiddle to anyone.”
“There is someone in NASCAR headquarters that doesn’t like being second fiddle and believes if you’re going to be over here, you need to be over here, and you’re ours now. So when he chose Indianapolis over the Coke 600, that person got very offended and you just never know what they’ll decide to do or the choice they’ll make.”
Hamlin noted that NASCAR could do whatever they want from here. He hinted one of those options might be to give Larson a waiver but stripping him of playoff points.
“There’s no governance to keep them from doing whatever they want,” Hamlin said.
NASCAR updates points ahead of Kyle Larson waiver decision
SHR team says you can go on without us
“NASCAR believes the show will go on with or without you, and I don’t necessarily believe that is as true today as it used to be,” Hamlin added.
“There used to be a steady stream of young stars coming through the roots, sponsorship was plentiful, and when you didn’t do what they wanted you to do, it was ‘this is our show, this is our sandbox, take it or leave it and if you don’t like it, leave,’ and I don’t think our sport is like that anymore.”
“If you ruffle the feathers of a Chase Elliott or a Kyle Larson, now you have a team that can say ‘you can go on without us, so okay, we’re out,’ and that’s what knocks out the legs of your stools.”
“If you keep having things that show the splinters in our sport, that’s not good for the sport long term and that’s troublesome.”
“That’s a very dangerous way to think because these teams and these drivers are the show,” he added.
“I just think (SHR owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas) are done with the headache of NASCAR,” Hamlin said. “And the headache of being in it.”
Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2021. He finished 2nd last season.
Kyle Larson posts depressing note after missing NASCAR race
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Kyle Larson | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Hendrick Motorsports | McLaren Racing | NASCAR | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indycar
