Denny Hamlin: Inconsistent NASCAR penalty rulings make you believe decisions are biased

Denny Hamlin isn’t being shy about calling out NASCAR’s inconsistencies in enforcing penalties, believing the decision-makers may be showing a bit of bias.

After no penalties were delivered to drivers like Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for certain modifications to their car at Talladega, Hamlin was left wondering why that was. On the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, he tried to make sense of the whole matter.

“When you see Jeff Gluck and those guys really kind of getting agitated, this is what it is. It’s so inconsistent,” Hamlin said, regarding NASCAR’s decision-making when it comes to delivering penalties. “You have rules, and when you rule on one one-way, rule the same on the next. So, is it an accident the No. 6 and the No. 17 both had both pieces missing from their car post race? No, I don’t care what excuse anyone tries to give. It was clearly manipulated in some sort of way to distort, and when it distorted, it fell off.

“So, it’s just one of many, and it makes it hard to sit here and maintain a neutral opinion about it, because it just doesn’t make sense on why sometimes it’s a penalty, sometimes it’s not. It just depends on — it makes you believe that there’s bias in our series, and whether it’s true or not, that’s the perception, and sometimes perception is reality.”

Alas, it has to sting for Hamlin to see some drivers get away with perceived advantages, especially when he was hit harshly with a penalty earlier in the summer. It almost caused an early playoff exit for Hamlin during the Round of 16, and he’s been fighting to regain his momentum ever since.

At the moment, the veteran wheelman is in a solid position in the playoff standings though, 30 points to the good heading into the final race of the Round of 12 at the Charlotte Roval. He didn’t have the best afternoon at Talladega, but he avoided “The Big One,” and the No. 11 driver was rewarded for it.

This season has clearly been championship or bust for Denny Hamlin, but he’s continually proven he won’t be tight-lipped when he sees an issue with the sport, and that’s exactly why he’s calling out what he believes to be a bit of hypocrisy from NASCAR. We’ll see if he continues to do so on the road to Phoenix.