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.

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.

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.

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.

Denny Hamlin is seen before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10, 2024. [Editor’s note: The following article is from Athlon Sports’ 2025 Racing Annual magazine. Order your copy online today,

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.