Denny Hamlin Calls for “No Holds Barred Racing” After Kyle Larson Controversial Talladega Win

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series chase race at Talladega last Sunday was chaotic and wild. Ut saw two massive wrecks that took out many of the title contenders and an impressive last lap charge from Kyle Larson after dropping P11 from the lead to win the race. He is now 73 points ahead of Denny Hamlin at P2 and is in the perfect position to win the title, with just two races left in the year.

The win though was controversial, owing to the fact that there is significant group in the NASCAR community that feels the No:5 Chevy should be penalized for supposedly crossing the yellow line in the all-important late charge. Amidst the social media drama, JGR veteran Hamlin came into the defense of the reigning champion.

He did not go below the yellow line. Yeah, that’s fair. Maybe you can argue the [Ross Chastain] did. I saw a camera angle from him where he was pretty low. Well, I think in the final lap, there’s about three cars that went below the yellow line. My only question was the Austin Hill one.

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast.

The No:11 TRD driver saw no rule breach Kyle Larson running on the edge of the inside lane but does have one concern. Austin Hill was forced off the track by the aggressive move from the HMS racer in the last lap and Denny Hamlin hinted that the sanctioning body may have missed a black flag worth breach.

Let me tell you something. He’s below the yellow line. So, I’m going to check that box. Yes. Then you have to ask, well, how did he get there? Did he drive below the yellow line or did he get forced down there? I think he turned down to the yellow line and was on the yellow line. And then the 5 (Larson) made a move that forced him below the yellow line.

Denny Hamlin added via Actions Detrimental.

Later talking on his podcast, the veteran highlighted how multiple drivers went beyond the yellow-line towards the end of the race, and how NASCAR not punishing them for it exposed the wishy-washy officiating of the sport. He believes it’s better the sport get rid of the ambiguous rules and give driver the opportunity have a no holds barred race.

Yeah, I mean, I’m just saying there was many cars below the yellow line on the last lap. And the 5 was not one of them.  And again, it’s just hold the whistle. I just it’s just too too wishy washy for my taste. Go away. Let’s just have it all go away. I’m tired of the ambiguity of it. Let’s just throw it away. Let’s have no holds barred racing. That’s what I want.

Denny Hamlin asserted.

Joey Logano exposes Kyle Larson’s rule breach while also defending the HMS racer

Three times Cup champion Joey Logano also talked about the controversy on his appearance on the SPEED with Harvick and Buxton podcast. Unlike Hamlin, he thinks Larson crossed the line but also support NASCAR’s decision to not punish him. He sees it as the right decision, as the move didn’t give the No:5 Chevy an unfair advantage.

Gosh, that’s such a tough call. I mean, that’s tough, right? Like he kind of wiggled below. He did wiggle below the line, right? I mean, he did, but did that make the difference of him winning the race? No, right. I think that’s kind of where NASCAR has got to use a little bit of common sense. And they did.

Joey Logano said on SPEED podcast.

The Team Penske Racing drivers gave a better argument in favor of Larson with the common-sense narrative and these comments shows, unlike what some on social media feels, the rivals see no illegitimacy in the No:5 drivers win. It would be interesting to see how the next two races of the season are going to playout and who is going to come out victorious.

Also Read: Kyle Larson Breaks Silence on Talladega Yellow-Line Breach Controversy