It’s pretty tough to argue with those facts, and the video behind the claim. While Hamlin can believe all he wants that he didn’t hit Larson, it’s evident that contact was made, and that’s what sent the Hendrick Motorsports driver into the wall.
While Larson and NASCAR fans around America may not appreciate it, Hamlin is still trying to explain his side of the story, as he did on his latest Actions Detrimental podcast.
“I went into Turn 1 and, the key moment for me was getting clear of the 19 right before we get into Turn 1,” said Hamlin. “So, I shot low, and the next thing I know — I go in there pretty deep — and the 5 goes in there and he just goes straight. And I’m like, ‘Oh s—.’ In that moment, I think I got a shot.’ It’s really, really tough because, this happens in a matter of half a second or one second, right? It’s super quick. So, I see him going up the racetrack and losing all his momentum, I just gas it. …
“So, I gas up, I get to the middle lane as quick as I can thinking I’m gonna clear him. Once I realize I’m not gonna clear him, I’m like, ‘Ah, s—.’ And, when that happened, I started lifting. I’m coming up, he’s holding his line and — I still contest we did not touch. … If it was contact, I certainly didn’t feel it.”
Regardless, Hamlin doesn’t have any regrets, he got the victory, and he’ll deal with the boo-birds in the way he knows how over the rest of the season.
The dissonance bordering on delusion is interesting, but Denny Hamlin is maintaining his point of view, even if it’s rubbing people the wrong way on and off the track.