Denny Hamlin SLAMS “Bit**ing and Complaining” about All-Star Race Promoters Caution Drama

The NASCAR All-Star race on Sunday at North Wilkesboro saw Christopher Bell producing another clutch run in 2025 to beat the defending race winner Joey Logano for the $1 million reward. His victory was the product of the fortunate timing with the promoter’s caution and his aggressive racing against the Team Penske Racing. Now JGR veteran Denny Hamlin has chimed in on the situation.

After the race, Joey Logano was furious at NASCAR for the promoters caution as, he was comfortably leading the race with the victory on sight, when Michael Waltrip waved the yellow flag. This gave Christopher Bell the opportunity to make the additional pit-stop and get the lead after the restart. Denny Hamlin addressed the complaints from driver on the issue and has the perfect response.

In the latest episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, he asserted that the complaints about the cautions should have come before the race and not after the event, especially from the drivers that were negatively affected the most. He highlighted that everyone in the garage knew before the race that the gimmick is going to change the dynamic for good or the bad.

I think if we did any bi**hing and complaining, we needed to do it before the race and not post. Just because we all might not be in agreement of it that it’s a good thing or a bad thing, a gimmick or not — of course it’s a gimmick — but how is that race going to play out without it?

Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental podcast.

From the entertainment perspective, NASCAR achieved the goal it had with the caution. The race was pretty monotonous in the final stage, with just five cars dominating the whole day. But the caution changed everything, with the pit-strategy coming into the play, making the finish much better than what it would have been naturally.

All I know from where I was sitting all day, the only entertainment I had was the leaders and when I could see them. It’s the same five cars for pretty much the whole day and so, I just didn’t see much going on there. It came at a time where it puts you to a decision: to pit or not to pit.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin asserts Joey Logano was wrong to criticize the promoter’s caution

During the same conversation, Denny Hamlin indirectly addressed the drivers that were negatively affected by the caution.  The conversation about the merits and demerits of any gimmicks in NASCAR is fair, but it should come before it is implemented as post-race it would be just seen as the loser making excuses.

So, I think it accomplished what it was designed to accomplish. We can argue the merits of whether it should or should not have been there. But I disagree with us bit**ing about it post-race because it affected you in a negative way. You had the opportunity to play one or the other.

Denny Hamlin said.

The 23XI Racing co-owner has a pretty good point here regarding the controversy surrounding the gimmick. The drivers should get over this and focus on the upcoming weekends race at Charllotte, the Coke 600. The one thing the garage should do though at the moment is learn from their mistakes this week and make better decision when they race in such situation again.

Also Read: (Video) Ty Dillon threatens to ‘beat Zane Smith’s A**’ over All-Star Weekend run-in

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