3 times Denny Hamlin lost his cool in NASCAR, ft. against Alex Bowman 

Denny Hamlin is one of the biggest names in NASCAR today. Known for his steadfastness and I-am-not-here-to-make-friends attitude, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been driving in NASCAR’s top-tier racing series for almost two decades.

NASCAR is a sport that requires about 40 high-end cars to throttle at 'dare-devilish' speeds vying for that one cherished ride down the victory lane. It is a sport where both talent and luck are needed to work in harmony.

Hamlin’s talent is undeniable, but he has been on the wrong side of luck several times. Be it motor breakdowns, loose wheels, or on-track squabbles, the man has seen it all. On that note, let’s look at three instances where the pied piper of Pocono lost his cool and minced no words while bashing his opponents.

1. Martinsville Speedway, 2021

Hamlin was one of the top contenders in the decisive Xfinity 500 race at the half-mile racetrack vying for a spot in the Championship 4. With 10 to go in the 500-lap event, Hamlin was leading the pack with Hendrick Motorsports driver, Alex Bowman, chasing him down.

In an attempt to pass Hamlin, Bowman veered to the inside of the No. 11 Camry when suddenly, he got loose and made contact with his opponent. Bowman drove past while Hamlin’s car got turned into the wall. The hit wasn’t anything major but it took away Hamlin’s chance of winning.

Hamlin was not ready to let it slide. Here is a video showing how he returned the favor right on pit road:

“He’s just a hack,” Hamlin said of Bowman during a post-race interview. “He’s just an absolute hack. He gets his ass kicked by his teammates every week and just, he’s (expletive) terrible. He’s just terrible, and he sees one opportunity and he takes it.”

Bowman won the race, his fourth triumph of the season, while Hamlin settled for a disappointing 24th. However, he still qualified for the title-deciding finale the following week.

2. Richmond Raceway, 2024

This time it was Austin Dillon who Hamlin was upset with. The Richard Childress Racing icon pulled a last-lap move against Hamlin and reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano to win the race.

Here is how it all played out between the three drivers:

When asked if Dillon deserved a penalty for wrecking two of his fellow drivers to bag the win, Hamlin told journalist Bob Pockrass,

“Where’s the line? That’s the thing, we have rules to prevent ridiculous acts but it’s been a long time since those rules have really been enforced!”

“Didn’t (Truck Series driver) Layne Riggs spin someone out and get a two-lap penalty or some bullsh*t? This is, it’s tough because this is what the young short track racers see and they think this is okay because they watch the professionals on Sunday that are supposed to act like adults just do dumb sh*t and it’s amazing that it’s allowed,” he added.

NASCAR penalized Austin Dillon by stripping him of his playoff spot. He was also docked 25 driver and owner points, and his spotter, Brandon Benesch, was parked for three races. Later, however, the penalty for Benesch was reduced from three races to one.

3. Kansas Speedway, 2024

Hamlin was fighting for a spot in the Round of 8 but instead went home with a P8 finish. He was visibly upset, but his anger wasn’t towards anyone in particular. He was frustrated with the race outcome in general and with how his pit stops turned out.

“It was just a crappy day on pit road, and we didn’t get the finish that we deserved," Hamlin said (via The Express). “This is a great opportunity to lock ourselves in and instead we’re scraping and clawing to finish in the top 10. Not in it mentally. I can tell you that. There’s a lot of wires crossed and bolts loose at the moment.”

Several fans wondered what that last comment meant. Was it a hint that something fishy was going on inside the No.11 team? In an episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin clarified,

“(The wires crossed and bolts loose comment) means that I'm rattled in the moment because I'm so angry about kind of how our day went. That's what I meant. Thank God I have a podcast."