Pit This Time may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our coverage. Learn more.
Denny Hamlin has an answer for Hendrick Motorsports‘ Snickers jab: he says he was on their side all along.
After Kyle Larson clinched his third Cup Series championship Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Larson, crew chief Cliff Daniels, team owner Rick Hendrick and vice chairman Jeff Gordon posed on the championship stage with Snickers bars in their mouths, next to the trophy. Hendrick posted the photo on X with a short caption: “Feeling like ourselves again.”
https://x.com/TeamHendrick/status/2119649508648689920
Where the Snickers Came From
The photo was a callback to comments Hamlin made in July after the Brickyard 400, where Alex Bowman was Hendrick’s top finisher in 19th. On his podcast, “Actions Detrimental,” Hamlin talked about fans piling on Hendrick in social media comments, and compared it to what Stewart-Haas Racing went through in its final season in 2024.
“Stewart-Haas, they were getting beat like a drum in their comments the last year of their existence. The ol’ Hendrick bros, they’re starting to get in there. Is this our norm now? Are we just a teens team? They’re not folks. They need to have a Snickers. They’ve not been themselves in a while,” Hamlin said.
The line was a nod to the candy bar’s slogan, “You’re not you when you’re hungry.”
Hamlin: ‘I Didn’t Expect Anyone With a Vest to Understand’
Asked about the photo during media availability before Tuesday night’s NASCAR Awards, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said Hendrick missed his point.
“Did they know I was picking their side? … I didn’t expect anyone with a vest to understand,” Hamlin said, apparently referring to the black vests Hendrick executives and team members wear.
https://x.com/bobpockrass/status/2120188381158396279
Hamlin said he had been talking about the trolls in the comments, not the team. Then he took a shot at Hendrick’s other three drivers, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman.
“I think I was talking about the trolls in the comments, but they should give some Snickers for those three other guys that didn’t win the championship,” Hamlin said.
A Title Run From a Winless Start
Hendrick’s struggles in the summer were real. Larson went winless through the 26-race regular season. He then won three Chase races and clinched the title by finishing fourth in Stage 1 at Homestead, giving Hendrick its 16th Cup championship.
Hamlin, the 64-time Cup winner, finished third in the standings, 56 points behind Larson. He also called Larson “this generation’s Jimmie” after the race.
Leave a Reply