"Dale Earnhardt did it years ago" - Denny Hamlin draws cues from NASCAR legend on hard racing opponents amid Kyle Larson rivalry

JGR driver Denny Hamlin recently shared his thoughts on rivalry with his arch-nemesis Kyle Larson. Hamlin and HMS driver Larson have been involved in numerous hard racing battles, with the former now drawing inspiration from former racer Dale Earnhart's aggressive approach.

In a recent episode of "Kenny Conversation"', former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace asked #11 driver Hamlin about his relationship with fellow Cup Series driver Larson. The 43-year-old Hamlin said:

"We've been friends off the racetrack for a very long time. I think that our friendship was always better before we started competing for race wins against each other.

"What I've learned over time though is that it's very difficult to keep a friendship on the racetrack as well and I think that you have to be able to separate those two things...we need to continue to push as much as we can to win for ourselves and our own team," Hamlin added (at 56:59).

Hamlin additionally talked about the seven-time Cup champion Earnhardt Sr.'s ties with his "toughest rivals" and how he still managed to go "fishing" with them.

The Florida native Hamlin also claimed that he appreciates the art of passing rather than knocking out the driver ahead. Hamlin has always been in the spotlight battling for the lead in the Cup Series races with #5 Larson. Moreover, the JGR driver said:

"Now eventually things have changed in NASCAR. Now more than ever it's people ain't waiting behind you anymore. They're just gonna knock you out of the way, knock you up the racetrack move on. That's the way Dale Earnhart did it years and years and years ago,"

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Denny Hamlin indirectly deemed his rivalry with Kyle Larson

In a Dirty Mo Media podcast, NASCAR veteran Hamlin finally accepted his rivalry with the 2021 Cup Series champion Larson.

Speaking on the Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin episode, Hamlin was asked about his racetrack rivalry with #5 Larson. He said:

"It is not a rivalry. It's two guys racing each other hard for the win. It's not. I like Kyle."

However, after an on-track incident at the Nashville Superspeedway, Hamlin had a different point of view regarding his rivalry and opined on the same.

"I'm in this for the long haul. I'm fine with the way we're racing. And It's going to keep going and it's going to keep getting raised," Hamlin said via Dirty Mo Media on X.

To which the co-host asked if this was a rivalry. To which Hamlin replied:

"Sure, if you want to call it that,"

#11 Hamlin and #5 Larson are cruising in the 2024 NASCAR playoffs with three wins under their name. As NASCAR heads toward the Pocono Raceway schedule, both Cup Series drivers are gearing up for the 21st race of the season.