“It's a what if”: Denny Hamlin unsure if Kyle Larson not getting a waiver would’ve hurt NASCAR

Denny Hamlin recently shared his take on the Kyle Larson waiver saga. Hendrick Motorsports was granted a waiver earlier this week after days of speculation. But in case Larson hadn't gotten the waiver, it could've gone in either direction regarding NASCAR's image.

This was the opinion that Denny Hamlin had. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was asked during a press interaction at Sonoma, whether NASCAR denying Larson a waiver would've been damaging to them.

Denny Hamlin claimed he doesn't know because that's not what ended up happening considering Larson got the waiver. However, he did suggest that Larson not getting a waiver wouldn't have been a good look for the governing body.

"I'm not really sure because it's a what if, and so we don't know. But certainly it was not the kind of publicity that was necessarily positive," Hamlin said. [3:05]

Denny Hamlin claimed NASCAR not giving Kyle Larson a waiver would've opened a Pandora's box

Speaking on Actions Detrimental's episode after Gateway, Denny Hamlin shared his take on Kyle Larson, potentially not getting a waiver at that time.

“Nobody wants this pandora’s box opened for sure,” Hamlin said. [1:02:05]

Hamlin mentioned that there was a legitimate reason to not give Larson a waiver because, as per the rules, a driver has to start all the races. But in case a driver can't take part in a race because of being suspended or a medical reason, they get a waiver. But the notion of Larson not getting a waiver because "he had a choice" was what ticked off Hamlin.

"He had a choice. That’s by the letter of the law. That’s what they’re saying is he had a choice. … it's ridiculous," he added.

The #11 driver emphasized on his point of Larson and the #5 team making "good faith efforts" of getting to Charlotte Motor Speedway after the Indy 500 and running the Coca-Cola 600. Hamlin mentioned that it was the unfortunate plans of Mother Nature that got in Larson's way. Having said that, he claimed that the longer the uncertainty over Larson getting or not getting a waiver goes, "the worse the news is going to be."

However, that didn't turn out to be the case as NASCAR announced on Tuesday that Kyle Larson was getting a waiver. As for why it took so long for NASCAR to come to this decision, Elton Sawyer claimed it was because this situation was an unprecedented one for them where a driver missed a Cup race, a championship event to race in another event.

Sawyer added that with consultation from a lot of different people, the right decision was made in giving Larson the waiver for missing the Coke 600.