Denny Hamlin Defends Richard Childress Amidst Controversy Over Dover Radio Meltdown

JGR veteran Denny Hamlin has come in for the defense of RCR team owner Richard Childress amidst drama over his recent comments.

Denny Hamlin Defends Richard Childress Amidst Controversy Over Dover Radio Meltdown

Denny Hamlin and Richard Childress (Via IMAGO)

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The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season so far has been brutal for Richard Childress Racing, as their depurate search for win since Richmond last season hasn’t seen any positive result. Other than a handful of top-5 finishes, Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon hasn’t produced any hopeful result. Team’s Hall of Fame boss lost it on team radio after another poor run, this Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

Kyle Busch secured P11 and Austin Dillon a P15 in the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, in a car that didn’t have a top 15 speed in it. So, Richard Childress didn’t hesitate to call out his team for the poor performance on both drivers’ team radio, admitting they are in trouble. Not everyone in the community was happy with the HOF throwing his crew under the bus, and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin got his back.

On his Actions Detrimental podcast, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran defended Childress and asserted that the Bossman is challenging his team to come up with better fix to make their results better. Most of their car parts are similar to that of HMS, but it’s the minute things that makes the different and RCR has to find solution to the mistakes they are continually making.

He’s not in charge of engineering them. I think he’s challenging his employees to come up with some different answers. He knows the parts and pieces are the same, but they’re obviously, what I believe he’s saying is that we’ve got to put them together better.

Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental.

Then the veteran tried to explain that factors that are behind the poor results of the team. He speculated that the Chevy team might be facing issues with simulators and the tire department. So, Childress is reminding his crew publicly to step up, produce faster and more balanced cars, in order to get the team back to winning days.

Well, it could be simulation, it could be tons of things. Maybe they’re getting different answers in the tire department than what others are. I don’t know. I’m not close enough to the situation to really know, but I’m here speculating that he’s challenging everyone …This is not working. We’re not fast enough. We need better cars. We need to give our drivers a better opportunity to win races.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin highlights the negatives of Richard Childress’ public comments

In the same podcast, Denny Hamlin admitted there are some negatives to the public comment the veteran has made. The spotlight now being on the crew might put too much pressure on their shoulders to deliver in the coming races.

Richard Childress and Austin Dillon
Richard Childress and Austin Dillon (Via sportscasting.com)

I guess the negative could be is that you know, now you’re going to put spotlights on all those people that are making those decisions, and they could feel pressure from that. You know, if you can’t stand the pressure, get out of the kitchen.

Denny Hamlin said.

But, the No:11 Toyota driver believes, the positives of Childress’ action are more than the negatives. Hamlin is also happy with the fact that the team owner didn’t publicly call out his drivers, instead backed them during the tough times.

I just think the positives outweigh it.  I think when you say that, you’re having the drivers’ back. You’re letting them know that you’re not happy with what you’re bringing for them to compete in. And yet maybe there needs to be a discussion publicly. Sometimes that works best.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comments from the TRD veteran are solid and reasonable. As he suggested, Childress has now challenged RCR crew to step up their game, and deliver good cars to their drivers. The team might need to make some massive restricting within the team, if they are to end 2025 winless.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Declares Chase Elliott Isn’t a Driver That Can Dominate Races