Denny Hamlin expected 'more respect' from Joey Logano on the track

During the Martinsville race, Denny Hamlin got very upset with Joey Logano. Logano wrecked Ty Gibbs from the front pack out of nowhere. Hamlin took some contact from Gibbs in the process and was not happy with Logano at all. He felt the NASCAR Playoff drivers were being messed with too much.

While he didn’t get as animated after the race, Denny Hamlin didn’t forget. He felt that Logano was putting his nose into the NASCAR Playoff race where it didn’t belong. Hamlin and Blaney were side-by-side when Logano just ran through Gibbs until he spun out.

Hamlin talked to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports after the race. The topic of Logano’s antics was brought up.

“No and nobody was [giving me a break]. I was watching them with all the guys,” Hamlin said. “There’s definitely a lot of games getting played with teammates racing certain ways but that’s their prerogative. They’re allowed to do that and there’s nothing against it. It’s advantageous for you to do that.

“The only issue I really had was with [Joey] Logano knocking out Ty [Gibbs] there and knocking Ty into me. I just thought that some more respect could be had for guys that – myself and the 12 [Ryan Blaney] are trying to earn a spot in the final four and I thought that we deserved a chance to race it amongst ourselves and not have somebody else in there knocking cars around.”

Denny Hamlin on what was going through his mind in the final stage when Ryan Blaney was pulling away and also what he thought of how non-playoff drivers raced (he wasn’t thrilled with Joey Logano). pic.twitter.com/IOB5Gc2pfA

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 29, 2023

When it happened, Denny Hamlin wasn’t nearly as cordial.

Denny Hamlin fumes at Joey Logano over the radio

During the heated race, Hamlin was boiling. In these playoff races, teammates that aren’t in the playoffs can be tricky. They play a role in blocking at times or holding up a car that is trying to lap them. It just depends on the situation. For the most part, it’s harmless and within the rules to race another driver hard.

However, I tend to agree with Hamlin. Joey Logano was trying to get rid of Hamlin’s teammate so he didn’t have someone to help. I wouldn’t go as far as Hamlin went though.

It was hot in Martinsville today, so tempers were flaring. But Hamlin said, “F***ing Joey [Logano], he’s a f***ing piece of sh** human.”

Denny Hamlin does not advance to the Championship 4. He will have to wait at least another year to win his championship if he ever claims the elusive accolade.