Denny Hamlin doubles down on NASCAR open exemption provisional take, fires back at Larry McReynolds

Denny Hamlin isn’t a fan of NASCAR‘s new open exemption provisional, which allows a 41st spot in races for a world class driver from another series to make the field should they fail to qualify naturally. 

Hamlin was quite vocal about that earlier this month at Bowman Gray Stadium and “got a lot of flak” from SiriusXM NASCAR Radio‘s Larry McReynolds for voicing his opinion, he said on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast. Hamlin, who is always willing to speak up, explained why it’s important for him to be authentic.

Denny Hamlin responds to Larry McReynolds over criticism of open exemption provisional

“You heard my opinion on this in the media center and I actually got a lot of flak from Larry McReynolds with this on Sirius. I think he was fair with me,” Hamlin said. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to do and that is I get asked a question from a reporter, what is your opinion of this? And so, at that point, I have to decide and it’s the same thing that we’re doing in here. I get paid to come in here and give my opinion on certain topics. You don’t have to agree with them, but I guarantee you you’re going to get my authentic truth. And it’s mine authentic truth, it doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong, but it’s what I’m being told to do and what our NASCAR fans have asked NASCAR drivers to do.

“Be authentic, show yourself, give your opinion, we wanna know. Larry was getting mad at me for going in there — what did you want me to do then? Just sit there and say, ‘Nah, didn’t like it.’ They’re going to say, ‘Why, what about it don’t you like?’ Then what do I do? Do I just make up something so it sounds better? No, I’m gonna give you my true and authentic opinion and then it’s up for you guys to debate whether that’s right or wrong. I hope fans and other media members understand I’m just doing my job and being authentic to myself when I give opinions on certain things.”

Denny Hamlin rips NASCAR over open exemption rule: ‘You’re just saying f***ing Tom Cruise can go in there’

This Sunday’s Daytona 500 will be the first race where the open exemption provisional is at play, as Trackhouse Racing secured one for four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves to compete. Hamlin doubled down on his criticism of the rule, calling it a “desperate” move from NASCAR in doing everything it can to “try to get a headline.”

“My opinion on this was that it was desperate. I didn’t like it,” Hamlin said. “Just thought that you’re really doing everything you can to try to get a headline. And I still believe it to be true. NASCAR is the highest form of motorsports in the U.S., so why can’t we act like the big boys and say, ‘If you wanna come over here and run with us, show me what you got. Go qualify in the race.’ It won’t be that hard and to me as a car owner, we just talked about these playoff scenarios in which things can happen. Things out of your control can happen.

“I was one David Starr brake rotor away from winning a championship in Phoenix one year, but that’s the breaks. … Now you’re just saying f***ing Tom Cruise can go in there and just because he said he raced in Days of Thunder, can come in there and compete on Sunday with the big boys. I don’t agree with that. It’s just my opinion on it.”