Every Monday, Denny Hamlin settles into a familiar routine as he records his popular podcast “Actions Detrimental.” As one of NASCAR’s most outspoken voices and an active driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin uses the platform not only to recap the previous weekend’s race but also to unpack the sport’s hot topics, emerging controversies, and ongoing issues. This week, however, the conversation took a particularly pointed turn as Hamlin addressed a growing disconnect between NASCAR leadership and its passionate fanbase — and in doing so, reignited a storm of debate within the sport.
The spark came from comments made the previous week by Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition. During an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Sawyer appeared to defend the state of superspeedway racing, particularly after the recent event at Talladega Superspeedway. Despite widespread frustration from both fans and drivers about the current racing package, Sawyer questioned whether any changes were necessary, citing statistics like 67 lead changes as a sign of competitive success.
Hamlin didn’t hold back in his criticism.
“I think when Elton came on and said, ‘I don’t understand. What do we have to fix?’ it really hurt his credibility with the fans,” Hamlin said on his podcast. “There’s a low morale among fans right now. They don’t have faith in the competition leadership. And honestly, I don’t know how else to say it — maybe they should just stop doing those Tuesday morning radio segments.”
To Hamlin, the effort to be transparent is appreciated, but transparency without accountability or action means little. “I get why NASCAR does it,” he admitted. “They want to explain themselves, to be open. But when they come on and completely brush aside what drivers have been saying about the superspeedway package for years, it’s frustrating. I’ve been talking about this issue for three years. Go back through my podcasts — it’s all there. The problem hasn’t gone away, and it keeps getting ignored.”
Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner and no stranger to success on superspeedways, wasn’t just speaking from personal experience. He voiced a concern that resonates deeply with many in the NASCAR world: the sport appears more focused on controlling the narrative through favorable stats than addressing real performance issues that affect the quality of racing.
“The thing is, fans can see through that,” he said. “They know when the product isn’t delivering. They can tell when passing is impossible, even if the cars are running two-by-two. You can’t fool them with numbers. Our fans are smarter than that.”
It was during this line of discussion that Hamlin revealed a recent interaction that further fueled his frustrations. While golfing with Michael Waltrip — a two-time Daytona 500 champion and longtime NASCAR personality — Hamlin encountered a viewpoint that underscored the very gap he was criticizing.
“Michael said to me, ‘I don’t get what everyone’s upset about. The cars are two by two, and the casual fan doesn’t know they can’t pass,’” Hamlin recalled. “I had to stop him right there. Because the truth is, casual fans make up about 10% of our audience. The other 90%? They’re die-hards. They live and breathe this stuff. They know what’s going on. They know when something’s wrong. And they deserve better than to be talked down to.”
Hamlin’s comments struck a chord across the NASCAR community. For some, his critique of NASCAR’s leadership and Waltrip’s dismissive remark reflected a broader frustration that the people in charge are out of touch with the core audience. While NASCAR continues to expand its fan engagement efforts, a growing number of fans and drivers alike feel the heart of the sport — competitive, fair, and exciting racing — is being lost in the shuffle.
As the sport looks ahead to another packed weekend of racing, Hamlin’s remarks serve as both a warning and a rallying cry. In an era when viewer loyalty is harder to maintain than ever, dismissing fan concerns or simplifying their knowledge is a risky move. If NASCAR truly wants to grow, many believe it must start by listening — not just explaining.
For Hamlin, the path forward is clear: respect the fans, take the drivers’ feedback seriously, and stop relying on surface-level stats to paint a rosy picture. Whether the leadership listens remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — Denny Hamlin won’t be staying quiet.
