Denny Hamlin suggests major rule change amid caution-filled Martinsville NASCAR race

As the NASCAR Xfinity Series puts on a similar caution-filled show that the Truck Series did last night, Denny Hamlin has a suggestion. Enough is enough, according to the Joe Gibbs Racing driver.

Denny Hamlin is not known for biting his tongue. As the end of the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville unfolds, he appears to have had enough.

The same thing happened in the Truck Series. When the race started to get to the end, everyone loses their minds. So, Hamlin has a major suggestion.

“Martinsville is a track that could use a ‘avoidable contact’ penalty,” Hamlin posted on X/Twitter. Does he have a point?

Martinsville is a track that could use a “avoidable contact” penalty.

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 29, 2025

Denny Hamlin did not let up on the racing at Martinsville. The end of the Xfinity Series race downright disgusted him, and for good reason. Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray decided it was more fun to run each other over than to finish the race. Smith more so than Gray.

In overtime, Smith repaid a bump and run from Gray by cleaning him out in the final corner. The only problem was it also led to Smith wrecking. Austin Hill slid on by for the win after leading no laps prior to the final lap this afternoon. He started the final overtime restart in fifth place. But he’s leaving with the clock.

As far as drivers and former drivers go, Hamlin was not the only one to speak out. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to chime in and add his two cents. Between Friday night and this evening, the racing has been poor at Martinsville.

Denny Hamlin calls for penalties

For Denny Hamlin, tonight needs to be the end of whatever it is we all watched tonight. I couldn’t agree more. This was the worst example of short track racing that we have seen probably since that 2023 Martinsville playoff race in the Xfinity Series.

NASCAR had a talking to the Truck Series after the 2023 championship. Since then, the series has more or less been on its best behavior and delivered really great racing.

In fact, Hamlin wants to see penalties. He isn’t content with just a lecture.

“It just takes 1 penalty and it will stop this s**t. For the short term that is. Gotta send a message.”

It just takes 1 penalty and it will stop this shit. For the short term that is. Gotta send a message.

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 29, 2025

Denny Hamlin is right. Something has to be done. There can’t just be a shrug from NASCAR and back to business as normal. With Bristol in two weeks, the time to make a change is now.