Denny Hamlin claps back at Larry McReynolds over playoff format, 'spreading disinformation' on 23XI lawsuit

Denny Hamlin had a strong message for Larry McReynolds who reacted to his proposed NASCAR playoff format. On X, McReynolds responded to Hamlin’s playoff format which includes double regular season points, seven races to make the Championship 4 and three races to determine the champion.

“So just what we need again! Our champion could go through the entire 10 race playoff, not win a race, might not need to and at the final race back possibly to where for one driver headed into the race, a clinch scenario! Now this would be nail biting and exciting!” McReynolds wrote.

Hamlin saw McReynolds’ post and mentioned what happened in the NASCAR Truck Series this year. “Hey Larry. I know facts are hard to comprehend, but we actually had a Champion crowned in trucks by a driver who didn’t win AT ALL during the season under this format,” Hamlin responded. “Sorry so what were you saying about winning again?”

A few minutes later, Hamlin went after McReynolds for what he said about 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ lawsuit against NASCAR. “Oh and if you could stop spreading disinformation to your listeners about our lawsuit I would really appreciate it. Thanks.”

Larry McReynolds sounds off on Denny Hamlin and others for 23XI and Front Row lawsuit

It’s not clear what “disinformation” McReynolds allegedly said about the lawsuit. But the former NASCAR crew chief and Fox Sports analyst called out 23XI and Front Row for filing a lawsuit against the sanctioning body.

“We’ve got an organization that’s been here not even four years that all of a sudden is saying, ‘We gotta change the way NASCAR’s run.’ I’m all about change. Change is what makes you better,” McReynolds said last month, via Brett Winningham of Speedway Digest. “But you know what? When I see Richard Childress, Jake Roush, Rick Hendrick, and Joe Gibbs that’s been here longer than some of these guys have been pooping yellow… and they signed off and said this is good… we’re okay.

“There’s things we don’t like about it but we’re going to do what’s best for the sport and best for our business. And they signed off on it and these people that have been either not competitive or only been here for four and a half years have been saying the way we’ve done business for 76 and a half years is wrong.”

Denny Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing with NBA legend Michael Jordan. The team and Front Row and suing NASCAR for “unlawful monopolization of premier stock car racing in order to enrich themselves at the expense of the premier stock car racing teams.”