North Wilkesboro Speedway, a historic track in North Carolina, has been defunct for years. Hamlin’s mention of NWB suggests his desire for a return to the nostalgic venue, perhaps as an alternative to the freshly repaved Sonoma Raceway. As Denny Hamlin has become the unofficial NASCAR villain nowadays despite great performances he finds himself in a heated exchange with the son of NASCAR Hall of Fame Bruton Smith.
A heated debacle
When paving on a budget goes wrong. NWB will be next. https://t.co/pXcqrFCXMW
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) April 5, 2024
Denny Hamlin replied to the post shared on X about Sonoma Raceway’s new pavement and Denny wrote:Â “When paving on a budget goes wrong. NWB will be next.”
In response to Denny Hamlin’s suggestion, Marcus Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports, criticized Hamlin and challenged his understanding of the issue. Smith stated that if Hamlin were to contact him directly, he would delete his tweet.
Known for his candid responses, Denny Hamlin didn’t shy away from the challenge. He replied to Smith, continuing the debate and extending the discussion further. The exchange sparked a public debate, with opinions divided on the matter.
Heres your tip. Let someone else run your business before you blow everything your dad gave you.
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) April 5, 2024
Why the debacle took place?
Sonoma Raceway in California recently underwent a fresh repaving. During a two-day test session, sections of the 2.52-mile circuit began to come apart, leading to the suspension of an SRO sports car event. Notably, portions of Turns 4, 7, 9, and 11 required repair, and Turn 11 is being entirely repaved ahead of upcoming races for the SRO-sanctioned series.
Marcus Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports (SMI), responded publicly to Hamlin’s criticism. The exchange occurred on Twitter, where Hamlin expressed his disappointment with the company’s track modifications. Smith, son of SMI founder and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Bruton Smith, engaged in a late-night Twitter spat with Hamlin.
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