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Denny Hamlin calls attention to recent Kyle Larson mistakes, claims criticism is deserved

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones09/08/25brianjones_93
Kyle Larson (25)
Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin is pointing out the recent mistakes Kyle Larson has made, as they both battle in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin discussed Larson wrecking Ryan Blaney during the Gateway race and why he’s not being called out on it.

“Most of the fanbase likes him,” Denny Hamlin said about Kyle Larson. “You’re going to stick up for your guy, right?”

Hamlin was then asked why non-Larson fans and media members haven’t called him out for the mistakes he’s made recently. “I don’t know the answer to that,” Hamlin admitted. “I agree, some criticism is deserved. He’s misjudging a lot. I guess you know in the back of your mind that surely it’s not intentional, so you give them a pass.”

Kyle Larson explains the wreck with Ryan Blaney at Gateway

Hamlin went on to say that Larson’s wreck with Blaney “luckily didn’t alter the 12’s day as much as it could have.” The incident in question happened at Lap 135 when Larson and Blaney were battling for the fifth position. Larson dove off into Turn 3 and washed up the race track and tagged Blaney’s No. 12 car. After the race, the two were seen on pit road discussing the incident.

“It was frustrating, but it didn’t warrant me to get into him or anything like that,” Larson said. “The first time I got to his inside, I was expecting him to not necessarily let me go and he left me room, but I ran into [Turn] 1 hard and he chased me in and I was sideways underneath him and was kind of like, ‘OK, we’re going to be racing hard for this position going forward’ — and we did. It led to me making contact with him a few laps later. It wasn’t anything malicious, and I probably hurt his second stage and potentially his finish, but it wasn’t on purpose.”

When the Gateway race was all said and done, Blaney finished fourth, and Larson finished 12th. Both drivers are in the playoffs and in a good position to advance to the Round of 12. However, Larson and Blaney will look to win the next race, which will happen on Saturday night at Bristol.