Denny Hamlin Breaks Silence on Kyle Larson’s Costly Mistakes as NASCAR Media Silence Raises Eyebrows

NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin is known for speaking his mind, and this week, his podcast made waves after he openly called out Kyle Larson for a string of recent on-track mistakes. The discussion quickly turned to a bigger issue. Hamlin and his co-host questioned why the NASCAR media have not scrutinized the Hendrick Motorsports star with the same intensity as other drivers often face.

The critique raises questions about whether one of the sport’s most popular drivers is getting a pass for errors that would draw fire for anyone else.

Why Is Denny Hamlin Calling Out Kyle Larson’s Costly Misjudgments?

On his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, Denny Hamlin broke down Kyle Larson’s critical misjudgment during last Sunday’s Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway. He explained that the No. 5 car’s attempt to disrupt Ryan Blaney’s momentum went too far, resulting in a significant error.

“All he’s (Kyle Larson) trying to do is go up there and slow the 12 down by ramming air into his left side door. And he misjudged it by like eight feet,” said Hamlin. “I mean, it was a lot. I don’t know. It’s a mistake. And we’ve definitely we’ve seen some Larson mistakes here lately.”

However, Hamlin’s criticism wasn’t limited to just one race. He also pointed back to Larson’s involvement in the Xfinity Series earlier this season, recalling other errors against the No. 7 car. According to the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, these are not isolated blunders but part of a concerning trend for the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver.

Is the NASCAR Media Giving Larson a Free Pass?

For Hamlin and others in the garage, the lack of media scrutiny has been just as surprising as the on-track incidents themselves. While he acknowledged that Larson enjoys much goodwill from fans, he noted that the obvious and repeated mistakes have not generated the criticism other drivers would typically face.

“Yeah. I mean, I think largely because the most of the fan base likes him, so you’re not, I mean, you’re going to stick up for your guy, right?” Hamlin explained.

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When his co-host pressed him on why Larson has not faced the same media backlash as others, Hamlin admitted he was unsure but agreed that some criticism is warranted. “I would say I don’t know the answer to that. I agree some criticism is deserved. He’s misjudging a lot. But you just, I guess, in the back of your mind think surely that’s not intentional. So you give him a pass.”

This open critique highlights a broader unease about potential double standards in NASCAR coverage. While many drivers are often raked over the coals for their errors, Larson, the 2021 Cup champion and one of the sport’s most popular names, appears to be getting a softer landing from both fans and the media.