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Mamba Smith takes heat from Denny Hamlin, NASCAR fans for hot take on championship

JHby: Jonathan Howard08/17/25Jondean25
Mamba Smith NASCAR
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

This morning, Mamba Smith decided to shake the hive, and NASCAR fans and Denny Hamlin have come out to respond. The NASCAR media personality had a hot take on what the championship should be and what the point of a championship is. Not many are going to like this.

There continues to be more and more criticism about the NASCAR Playoffs. Win-and-in, single race championship, and a few other factors are not looked upon favorably by the fans.

Today on X/Twitter, Mamba Smith was responding to race fans. His take on the championship has caused quite a stir.

“The point isn’t to crown the best driver… It’s to crown the best team who executed the best when the pressure was at its highest and the lights were the brightest,” Smith posted.

Yeah…I’m not too sure about that. Denny Hamlin responded to the post.

“Oh man, yikes,” Hamlin said. Yikes is right. Smith was getting dragged and ratio’d all over the place.

It is becoming more and more clear that the online NASCAR fanbase wants change. Whether or not that change happens is another thing entirely. NASCAR isn’t like other sports, where there is a board of team owners or anything like that that convenes each year to vote on rule changes. The executives pretty much have carte blanche to do whatever.

Right now, there is a desire to put more legitimacy into the championship. Denny Hamlin has been a vocal advocate for changing the system. Will it all fall on deaf ears?

Denny Hamlin wants to see change

When it comes to the sport’s top critics, Denny Hamlin has to be near the top. He has been a vocal and consistent critic of the championship format and the Next Gen car. From the brakes to the engines to the aero package, Hamlin has had something to say about it.

Then there is the championship. The one-race finale is not ideal. Many fans and drivers would like to see that championship round expanded to three races if possible. That is, if the playoffs have to remain.

Mamba Smith has the NASCAR world talking today. If the championship isn’t to crown the best driver, then why is there a driver’s championship? I’m not sure this is going to be the popular take that Smith was hoping for.

One thing is for sure, Denny Hamlin isn’t on board with it. What will it take for everyone to get on the same page?