Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, openly criticized Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his team‘s strategy after NASCAR’s Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday. The focal point of Hamlin’s critique centered around Justin Allgaier’s late-race pit stops, which Hamlin believes cost him the race despite Allgaier leading 99 laps. The incident culminated in Allgaier losing his lead to Kyle Larson and eventually crashing out, settling for a disappointing 35th-place finish.
During an episode of his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, Hamlin detailed what he perceived as a critical error by Allgaier’s pit crew, explaining,
“They just didn’t pit him at the right time… Allgaier was in some traffic, and then he was getting held up by that traffic. They ran him out there for three or four laps. Allgaier was dropping six-tenths battling with these guys.”
Hamlin’s assessment highlighted the importance of timely pit decisions and how delays can significantly impact a driver’s performance on the track.
Hamlin also praised Kyle Larson’s aggressive approach once he seized the lead, noting Larson’s consistency and determination throughout the closing laps.
“I almost tweeted out that with almost 40-50 [laps] to go, that guy is trying to do that thing again, which is lap the field,”
Hamlin said, referencing Larson’s dominant style. Larson ultimately claimed victory at the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300, narrowly defeating Taylor Gray, Riley Herbst, Austin Hill, and Sam Mayer to take the checkered flag in Fort Worth.
Looking ahead, the NASCAR Cup Series will continue with the Mother’s Day race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, while the Xfinity Series will resume racing on May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Larson currently stands second on the NASCAR leaderboard with 408 points, boasting two wins, seven top-five finishes, and eight top-ten finishes this season.
This episode sheds light on the high-stakes nature of pit strategy and how split-second decisions can change the trajectory of a race. Hamlin’s critique not only underscores the pressure faced by team crews but also raises questions about Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s management choices as 23XI Racing aims to refine its approach in upcoming events.
