Denny Hamlin comments on relationship with Kyle Larson amid ongoing racetrack rivalry - "It has its own ups and downs"

NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his opinion on his relationship with fellow driver Kyle Larson. The two racing titans, known for their numerous on-track altercations, recently clashed again during the Ally 400 race at Nashville Superspeedway.

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin were once again bumping heads with each other as they battled for third place towards the end of Stage 2 in Nashville. Larson ran Hamlin up the track through Turn 1 and Turn 2, prompting a visibly frustrated Hamlin to retaliate by repeatedly slamming into the back of Larson’s car. The heated exchange only cooled down after Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gabehart, intervened.

The drama didn't end there. The #5 Chevrolet driver lined up in the second row behind Hamlin and Ross Chastain for the first overtime restart in Nashville. Eager to gain an advantage, Larson drove aggressively into Turn 1 to get clean air and challenge Hamlin for the lead. However, his assertive move backfired, resulting in Chastain's wreck on the outside.

Reflecting on their relationship, Hamlin acknowledged its fluctuating nature. He told the media ahead of the Cup race in Chicago:

"It has had its ups and downs, just like any other thing, honestly. It goes through these moments at times. But I think both can see through the other side of it, for sure."

The JGR veteran further explained the root of their frequent clashes.

"I mean, when it comes down to it, we’ve raced each other for a lot of wins over the last few years," said Denny Hamlin. "And really, no matter what team he’s driven for, he’s competed for race wins. I think a lot of that is because we’re running in the same place at the same time."

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Kyle Larson talks about Denny Hamlin's role in the Ross Chastain incident in Nashville

Kyle Larson also provided his perspective on the incidents in Nashville and his aggressive driving style. When Bob Pockrass asked Larson if he had been deliberately aggressive due to Hamlin being on the front row, Larson admitted his move was aggressive and unwanted in nature.

However, he was also unsure if he would have raced differently against other drivers. The HMS driver said:

"I don't know. I mean, I'm not sure because I didn't have somebody in front of me to know how I would've raced. I would have ultimately known that I would need clean air on the nose no matter who's in front of me."

He added:

"But yeah, guess maybe less likely to be as dumb and aggressive as I was. But you don't really know until you're put in the situation," Larson told Pockrass at the Chicago Street Race.

With three wins each, both Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin have continued to dominate the grid in the 2024 season. While Larson finds himself leading the NASCAR Cup Series standings after 19 races, Hamlin is placed fourth.