“We Would Make Up a Penalty!” Denny Hamlin Exposes NASCAR Over Dramatic Houler Meeting at Iowa

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin came into the Iowa Corn 350 on Sunday with high hopes, after setting up car inspired by his own team 23XI Racing. But the experiment turned out to be a nightmare owing to the defective brake pads the No:11 team fitted on the Camry. He warned the team about consequences after a poor qualifying, as the break issue was giving him a hard time.

The team was able to identify the situation before the race, but found themselves in crossroads as they are not allowed to change the braking components. The rules were pretty clear, the whole braking system can be changed, but can’t change the pads overnight. The No:11 team went to the NASCAR Houler to find solution but failed.

We got in a situation apparently. I knew that NASCAR typically lets you change your braking components when it comes to safety, because NASCAR doesn’t want you having brake issues. They don’t want people failing brakes, blowing rotors…But what’s interesting is that the pads are the only things the teams are not allowed to change overnight.

Denny Hamlin said on is podcast.

They desperately wanted to change the pads owing to performance as well as safety concerns. Denny Hamlin even asked NASCAR to penalize him with a pit-lane start or an addition penalty for the coming weeks and allow him to make the change overnight. But the sanctioning body didn’t budge and kept insisting every word in the rule book needs to follow.

I told them, I’d start on pit lane. Like, just let me get out of this box. Like we have a major problem. And they were like, that’s not the way it’s written right now… However, like this is where common sense has to come into play: that this is not for some strategic advantage…. I’m just saying, extenuating circumstances where you obviously see there’s a problem, give me the penalty. I’ll start on pit lane this week. I’ll start last next week.

Denny Hamlin added via Actions Detrimental.

Later in the same conversation, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran revealed that NASCAR even threatened him during the discussion. They told him they would make up harsher penalty if they change the pads overnight and worse that what he would get if they change the component under green. If they were willing to make a rule change, they should make the change using common sense and allow the TRD driver to change the part overnight.

Speaking of making penalties up, I said to them, listen, I did my best in that hauler, just laid out my case…They said, well, we would make up a penalty, and it would be worse than what it would be if you just came in and changed them under green… So, they did acknowledge that they were willing to make up a rule.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin took full responsibility for the car set up issue

Later in the same conversation, the veteran took all the blame for the drama, as he highlighted how it was him that convinced the No:11 team to take the failed car set up approach. If he was more careful with choices earlier that dram wouldn’t have happened.

My message to my team, and I’ll take the responsibility for it is that I can’t hit my ass with both hands at this racetrack. Put in somebody’s setup that’s been pretty good. The next question my team asks is, ‘Well, do you want their brakes as well, because if you want to be exactly like they were, then they’re quite a bit different.’ And I’m like, it was fine for them, it’ll be fine for me, and so that’s the approach we took.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comments and frustration from the championship leader is valid, as NASCAR should’ve used more common sense while deliberating the issue. Fortunately, Hamlin was able to overcome the challenge and finish P5 in the race, extending his championship lead over main rivals Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick.

Also Read: “Gut-Wrenching!” Tyler Reddick Takes 100% Blame for Lap 4 Wreck Involving Erik Jones at Iowa