“They both deserved to wreck.”
On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series raced at Iowa Speedway. The race was caution filled, especially in stage three, after multiple four wide situations ended in inevitable crashes.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 puts some of the blame on Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Hamlin says both drivers were laying back on restarts to get a jump on the field before making it a three wide situation into turn one.
Per NASCAR rules, that’s not allowed. However, it’s a call that would need to be made during the race.
Both Larson and Elliott were involved in many incidents, specifically on restarts. That included incidents with each other which caused some radio drama between teammates.
Larson yelled on the radio, “(expletive) every single (expletive)! How much (expletive) room do I have to leave people? How’s my right-rear quarter, all that stupid shit.”
The No. 5 crew chief responded under a caution, “I know those guys have been hard on you man. Vent, yell at me and then we’re gonna figure out how we’re gonna reset. I know you’re mad. Stay mad for 2 minutes and we’ll figure out our next move.”
Larson responded, “I’ve been quiet for 45 minutes.”
The crew chief clarified, “That’s why I’m telling you to yell.”
Larson responded, “I know. I’ve been trying to be good, a good teammate. I’m trying to be a good competitor. And it hasn’t gotten me anywhere here the last (expletive) hour.”
Kyle Larson is hot on the team radio after an incident with Denny Hamlin (June 2025)
Denny Hamlin calls out Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott
“Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson laying back 3 car lengths on the field, and then getting a run and going four-wide, like, that’s what causes the wrecks,” Denny Hamlin stated via the Actions Detrimental podcast.
“I think it’s what…the driver’s instructors are telling them to do; do as much as you can get away with.”
“But what I’m calling on is NASCAR officiating to do something about it.”
“It’s a complete disregard for people that you’re laying back from. ‘Cause you’re just willing to stick them in a four-wide situation where you know they’re gonna wreck…and you just don’t care.”
“And that’s what happened with the Larson and Chase thing. They laid back so much. They must have been running ten miles an hour faster, probably more than that. Then the cars in front of them when they all took off, and then they both tried to shoot the gap at the same time in the middle.”
Hamlin added, “It’s like, they both deserved to wreck.”
Iowa Results: August 3, 2025 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Kyle Larson Radio
Links
Denny Hamlin | Kyle Larson | Chase Elliott | Iowa Speedway | NASCAR
