Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin have found themselves entangled in several on-track altercations recently, most notably during Sunday’s race at New Hampshire. As usual, both drivers were competing near the front of the field when they began trading paint, banging doors for several laps. During this intense battle, Larson’s spotter, Tyler Monn, radioed a pointed message: “He runs you like that every time. You know why? Because you let it happen.” This commentary did not sit well with Larson, who responded bluntly, “Shut the f*** up.”
In the latest episode of “The Teardown,” Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of *The Athletic* delved into the recurring confrontations between Larson and Hamlin. They noted that Hamlin often seems to have the upper hand in these encounters. Gluck pointed out, “There’s a lot of history there with Larson and Hamlin. It’s a sore spot with the 5 team. Of all the 1-2 finishes those guys have had, Larson has never come out on top. He’s always on the losing end, and it seemed like Tyler Monn was basically saying, ‘You know why that happens? Because you let him push you around.’ And Larson’s response was, ‘Shut the f*** up.’”
Denny Hamlin Dismisses Rivalry Claims with Kyle Larson
Jordan Bianchi added that Larson’s apparent reluctance to push back against Hamlin may be why Hamlin continues to be aggressive. “Kyle has been on the wrong end of this a few times, and it feels like Denny knows he can capitalize on it. He thinks, ‘Hey, I’m gonna eat you up because I know you’re not gonna retaliate.’ That’s the dynamic we see all the time,” Bianchi explained. He drew a parallel to how rookies are often treated in the sport, suggesting that without standing up for himself, Larson is likely to continue being bullied on the track.
Hamlin, however, downplayed any notion of a brewing rivalry during his Monday podcast, “Actions Detrimental.” He attributed their run-ins to the nature of competitive racing, particularly when two drivers are consistently battling for top positions. “It’s not a rivalry,” Hamlin stated. “I like Kyle. Just watch the race; we all do this to each other all the time. Maybe there’s an emphasis because we’re up front all the time, but it’s racing, it’s short-track racing — get over it.”
This ongoing saga between Larson and Hamlin highlights the intense and often contentious nature of NASCAR racing, where respect and assertiveness on the track are constantly being negotiated and tested.