Kyle Larson gives a verdict on his friendship with Denny Hamlin after the JGR drive made it ‘shitty and awkward’ at Pocono

Kyle Larson didn’t mince his words when asked about the race-ending fight on track with Denny Hamlin at Pocono.

Kyle Larson gives a verdict on his friendship with Denny Hamlin after the JGR drive made it ‘shitty and awkward’ at Pocono

Kyle Larson (Credits: Hendrickcars.com) and Denny Hamlin (Credits:IMAGO)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and three times Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin seem to find it hard to restrain their levs from going hard on the final laps of the races. The second episode of such an encounter occurred on Sunday at Pocono, where the Toyota driver walled Larson to score his 50th career Cup and win.

The first time the duo caused such an incident this season was at Kansas, which marked Denny Hamlin’s first win of the 2023 season. The JGR driver moved the No:5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy, which was in the lead that day, to secure the victory.  Larson and Hamlin are close friends off the track despite always racing each other hard on the track.

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The 23XI Racing co-owner has claimed more than once that Larson is a driver he respects more than his competitors. Larson has the same respect back to one of the sport’s legends. When asked how the second incident involving Hamlin this year will affect their friendship, Larson said that he is mad at him and will be so for some more time, but they are still friends.

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“No, I mean, it is what it is. Yeah, we’re friends. Yes, this makes things shitty and awkward. You know, whatever. He’s always right. All the buddies know Denny’s always right. I’m sure he was in the right there, as well. It is what it is. I’m not going to let it tarnish our friendship on track, but I am pissed. I feel like I should be pissed. I’m sure to tune in to ‘Actions Detrimental’. He’ll have a long clip on,” Larson said after the race.

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Kyle Larson says Denny Hamlin used him up at Pocono

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin (cRedits: Getty)

Larson is pissed at the end of the race and doesn’t mince his words on Hamlin. He said he always turned out to be the victim after a fight with the No:11 car on the track. Rick Hendrick’s driver said it has always been Hamlin who found himself in NASCAR in a position where he had to apologize and never him

“I got used up. It’s just unfortunate. I feel like we’ve had a handful of run-ins; I’ve never had to reach out to apologize. He’s always been the one that’s reached out to me and been like, ‘Hey man, I’m sorry. I messed up there a little bit,’ or ‘Sorry, I put you in a bad spot,’ or ‘Sorry, I hurt your day.’ I’ve never had to do that to him,” Larson said.

He said that he would have been top two Hamlin, he would have won two more races and would have been in the top 2 in the Championship table. He said, “Sure, maybe there’s been times he’s been frustrated with me, but I’ve never hurt his results. I should have at least been top two; I finished 21st.”

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