Denny Hamlin had a tremendous time at Bowman Gray Stadium during the 2025 iteration of The Clash, as NASCAR brought the Cup Series to Winston Salem, North Carolina. Still, he’s not convinced that’s where the circuit should head in 2026 for the event.

Denny Hamlin, a long-time fixture in NASCAR and currently driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, has raised concerns about a drying well of sponsorship money within the sport of NASCAR.

NASCAR’s rulebook has always been a bit of a lightning rod, but the so-called “Kyle Larson Rule” has kicked the debate up a notch. The post Denny Hamlin Confirms Taking Advantage of NASCAR’s Controversial ‘Kyle Larson Rule’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Three-time Daytona 500 winner and 23XI Racing team co-owner Hamlin is a harsh critic of the new ‘Open Exemption Provisional’ (OEP) that encourages and guarantees world-class drivers a spot to compete in the Cup Series.

Denny Hamlin has strongly criticized NASCAR's new Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) rule, which grants automatic race entry.

Last night, despite leading laps, Denny Hamlin only brought home a P3 finish in the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. A four-time winner in the Clash, Hamlin was not able to win the newest edition of the race.

NASCAR is hoping new rule will bring stars, and more eyeballs, from other racing series to big races like the Daytona 500.

Denny Hamlin called NASCAR "desperate" over its new driver provisional in 2025. Find out what else Hamlin had to say about the new NASCAR rule!

The excitement was high when NASCAR returned to the Bowman Gray Stadium. The post Denny Hamlin Proposes a Twist in the Tale for NASCAR’s Clash in 2026 appeared first on EssentiallySports.