Denny Hamlin Urges NASCAR to Make Approval Process “Stringent” Amidst Cleetus McFarland Controversy

JGR veteran Denny Hamlin is demanding NASCAR to have stricter racer approving policy amidst the chaos over Cleetus McFarland’s RCR deal.

Denny Hamlin Urges NASCAR to Make Approval Process “Stringent” Amidst Cleetus McFarland Controversy

Denny Hamlin and Cleetus McFarland (Via imago and nascar.com)

One of the biggest controversies in NASCAR at the moment involves Cleetus McFarland getting cleared to race in the Oreilly’s Series, after signing a three-race part-time deal with Richard Childress Racing. Many critics have called out NASCAR for allowing the inexperienced YouTuber to race in the second division.

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin addressed the drama in the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast. Like many of the critics, the veteran started his comments highlighting how humble of a perron Cleetus McFarland is and how these comments are not targeted at the racer, but the sport sanctioning body.

Cleetus has been ultimately one of the most humble people. When I hear him do his serious interviews, like with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and whatnot, he is very humble when it comes to these opportunities that he’s getting.

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast.

The veteran was surprised to see the disappointing Truck Series debut from the racer at Daytona and that made him wonder should he be given more chances in the top division immediately considering he might wreck the championship favorites. Hence, Denny Hamlin wants NASCAR to stricter with the approval process, by which the most talented racers get the opportunity instead of the ones that can bring in the most sponsorship dollars.

Should guys that are running full time for points, for championships, have to be potentially affected if he ends up spinning to the right and wiping out half the field, versus going to the left and only wiping himself out?… I think the approval process in NASCAR probably needs some work. It needs to be more stringent. I think if you made the approval process more stringent, people would hire more off of talent than they would dollars.

Denny Hamlin added via Actions Detrimental.

Denny Hamlin gives the team owner perspective of the Cleetus McFarland drama

But at the same time, Hamlin understands what teams like RCR gives the inexperienced racer opportunity to race. It helps them to attract more fans, increasing their market reach and secure new lucrative sponsorship deals.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin (Via @JoeGibbsRacing/X)

The sponsorship economy is tough for the race teams at the moment and they have made some tough choices that fans won’t agree with to continue operating the team on the higher level. Hence NASCAR has step in, before the slippery slop situation goes south.

Now, it would be tough on the car owners, because then they don’t have anyone to support their business. So, this is a very, very tough slippery slope that we’re on. But I really caution NASCAR on letting this get too far.

Denny Hamlin said.

The 23XI Racing co-owner does have a strong point and as even his team is giving a Cup seat to Riley Herbst, who isn’t a Cup level driver, over prodigy Corey Heim due to the massive sponsorship deal. The sport has to work on fixing the economy to keep its legitimacy alive.

Also Read: Tommy Baldwin Insists Cleetus McFarland is “Hurting Himself” With New RCR Deal