The recent controversy between Denny Hamlin, a current NASCAR Cup Series driver and co-owner, and Marcus Smith, the Speedway Motorsports Chairman, has caught the attention of racing fans. The heated chat went on X which is discussed in the later part of this article.
But the good news is finally the heated exchange of words seems like cooling down as Marcus Smith posted a message on X stating,
“Following up on my previous posts, I take a lot of pride in the dedication and hard work our teammates put forth to make @NASCAR the very best it can be and I shouldn’t let social media conversations get personal, so I deleted those posts. @dennyhamlin is a passionate driver and team owner and I’m truly looking forward to seeing him drive for a championship this year. Our team is working hard to fix some pavement issues @racesonoma and we will get it right. Let’s keep the positive momentum going in 2024!”
Smith, in his defense, emphasized the quality of his company’s work but later deleted his responses to Hamlin.
Yall both need to set some app limits 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ah60db3PYj
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 5, 2024
In response, Denny Hamlin also acknowledged his role in the situation and expressed a desire to calm things down and focus on a positive future. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s response, which included a photo of a time limit on X, caught the attention of fans after the debate had cooled down.
How it all started?
Sonoma Raceway, a track known for its challenging road course, is currently undergoing repaving in certain areas. The work was necessary due to sections of the track coming apart during a non-NASCAR event.
Denny Hamlin took a jab at Smith’s track reconfiguration record, particularly referencing the Texas track’s reconfiguration, which hasn’t produced great racing.
Smith responded by playfully suggesting that Hamlin could give him golf tips when he has the chance. Hamlin didn’t hold back, advising Smith to let someone else run his business before squandering what his father had given him.
Smith, whose father founded the track operating company, called Hamlin an “almost NASCAR champion.” He added that Hamlin’s negative comments would carry more weight if he had a championship to back them up.The exchange ended with some sharp words exchanged between the two.
READ MORE: Denny Hamlin finds himself in a heated debate with Motorsports Insider
