NASCAR: Hamlin booed loudly at Pocono

Denny Hamlin was widely booed after taking the checkered flag for his 50th NASCAR Cup win at Pocono Sunday.

He passed Kyle Larson for the win by pushing him up into the wall exiting Turn 1 late in the race for the win, all but ending Larson’s shot at the victory.

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Mavis Tires & Brakes Toyota, takes the checkered flag under caution to win the NASCAR Cup Series HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 23, 2023 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Hamlin stated he gave Larson enough room to have a lane and doesn’t think there was contact between the two cars. Larson thought otherwise.

“[Hamlin] knew that was going to be his only opportunity to beat me with how bad dirty air is,” Larson said. “I got used up.”

One more look at what everyone is talking about. pic.twitter.com/x8BeVoC8nw

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 23, 2023

NBC TV announcer Kyle Petty did not appreciate the win.

“Denny can’t be the victim,” Petty said after the race. “We played his radio, he was the victim, he puts himself in the victim position. You’re not the victim here Denny Hamlin. And when I looked at this one and we heard what Kyle Larson said, he said, ‘Denny’s always right, all his buddies know it.’ And he laughed about it. Because he knows Denny’s not going to apologize for this. It was a great race. I enjoyed every lap, I loved the strategy, I loved everything about it. The ending? I don’t appreciate. I don’t appreciate. Even 50 wins, what he’s done I don’t appreciate that because we saw this same move last year and that’s just my opinion.”

Petty would continue to lay it on Hamlin before the end of the broadcast.

“No, he’s not going to do that’s not Denny. Listen, he’s not going to, I’m not even going to go down that highway with you because that’s not Denny Hamlin’s personality. Kyle Larson said it, Denny’s always right. People that are always right don’t have remorse, they just go ahead and live their life in their world. And that’s what Denny does. And that’s fine, because he is an incredible race car driver. He is able to take that and put it somewhere, and t’s win at all cost and we saw that here.”

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Mavis Tires & Brakes Toyota, lifts the HighPoint.com 400 trophy in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 23, 2023 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Over the years, Larson can recount a handful of times where Hamlin has gotten the better of him. But this time felt different to the 2021 Cup Series champion, as he felt he didn’t have a shot to make it through Turn 1.

“We’ve had a handful of run-ins and I’ve never had to reach out to apologize,” Larson said. “He’s always been the one to reach out to me and be like, ‘Hey man, sorry, I messed up. Sorry, I put you in a bad spot – hurt your day.’ I’ve never had to do that to him.

“Maybe there have been times where he’s been frustrated with me, but I’ve never hurt his results. I should have at least got a top 10, but I finished [20th]. In my eyes, I could have 10 more playoff points, two more wins right now if it weren’t for the 11. I’m pissed and I should be.”

ALL-TIME interview from Larson pic.twitter.com/5nyH7wFE1W

— Rubbin is Racing (@rubbinisracing) July 23, 2023

“I put both those guys, the 48 (Hamlin got Alex Bowman loose earlier in the race) and 5, in an aero situation,” Hamlin said. “Didn’t touch either one. How can you wreck someone you don’t touch?

“They make a decision to either let off the gas and race side by side, or hit the gas and hit the wall. I mean, I put them to those decisions. I didn’t overshoot the corner. I was behind. I tried to get position on him, knew it was going to be tight off of two, but always made sure I left a lane or more, more than a lane.”

Larson does think the two incidents from this season were different. The Kansas battle was racing hard for the win. On Sunday, he “didn’t get to race him” at all.

Knowing when enough is enough, is something Larson can’t ponder. Hamlin has said multiple times in the past that Larson is known for putting his competitors in tough situations. But he believes he races his buddies differently.

“I’m an aggressive racer, I get it,” Larson said. “I tend to race my friends with more respect, but I feel like I haven’t gotten that respect from him, especially this year but even in the past.”

Hamlin did think he raced Larson with respect, though.

“We’re racing for the win. Are you shitting me?” Hamlin stated. “If I’m going to give anyone the respect, it’s Kyle Larson just because I respect him as a racecar driver, and I think he’s probably the best. Certainly, he’s got my respect. I guarantee you, roles reversed, it goes the same way.”