Denny Hamlin expressed strong dissatisfaction with the NASCAR 2026 schedule, assigning it a “D plus” rating during a recent discussion about the upcoming season. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s main concern centers on Dover Motor Speedway losing its regular-season points race, replaced instead by the All-Star Race next year.
Hamlin highlighted his unease with the changes at Dover, Delaware’s mile-long track, famously called the Monster Mile by NASCAR enthusiasts. He questioned the decision to remove points-paying events from a venue with a passionate fan base that has weathered many challenges.
Concerns Over Changes to Dover Motor Speedway’s Schedule
Hamlin voiced clear disappointment about stripping Dover of a standard points race, noting the track’s significance to fans and drivers alike. “D plus, I don’t know,” Hamlin said regarding the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
“Definitely taken away from Dover, I don’t necessarily agree with that. I don’t know what kind of tricks you make to kind of make that race compelling, but certainly I think that Dover fans endured a lot of heat for a lot of time to have some races taken away.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Fan Backlash Erupts Following Hamlin’s Remarks
Shortly after Hamlin’s comments surfaced, NASCAR followers on X reacted sharply, many criticizing the driver rather than the schedule itself. One fan dismissed him bluntly,
“Dudes a dud. Always whining. Oh, and 0 championships.”
—fan
Another follower expressed frustration at Hamlin’s negativity:
“He hates everything… he needs to find something to do that he actually likes.”
—fan
The comments continued with equally harsh responses from others, including statements such as
“Of course denny doesn’t like it,”
“What a crybaby bitch,” and
“What a shocker that the most negative driver in the sport doesn’t like the schedule.”
Additionally, some speculated that Hamlin’s grievances stem from ongoing legal difficulties with NASCAR, with one fan suggesting,
“Denny doesn’t like anything NASCAR is doing because they are beating him in court.”
—fans
Notable Updates in the 2026 NASCAR Schedule
Despite controversy, the 2026 schedule introduces some fresh developments. North Wilkesboro Speedway will return to hosting a points race, an exciting revival for the sport. Moreover, a new street race at Chicagoland Speedway is set to replace the Mexican event held at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, signaling a shift in NASCAR’s event venues.
Attention remains on the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, with the next key race scheduled at Daytona International Speedway on August 23. This 400-lap race will have television coverage on Peacock starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, along with exclusive radio broadcasts on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Hamlin Praises Tire Performance Following Richmond Raceway Event
In a separate commentary, Hamlin shared positive feedback on the recent race at Richmond Raceway, particularly highlighting the role of Goodyear tires on the short track. Speaking on his Actions Detrimental Podcast, Hamlin explained that the noticeable tire wear contributed to a more engaging competition.
“It was good to see a great short-track race. Some great tire fall-off. Thank you Goodyear, for bringing a tire that had over two to two-and-a-half seconds of fall-off. Fantastic!”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
He added,
“Richmond was kind of one of the very first short-tracks that was getting the, ‘Oh man, this is kind of boring’ type-feel, right? It’s good to see that the tires do matter.”
—Denny Hamlin
During this event, Hamlin secured his 13th top-10 finish of the season, while Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon clinched the victory and secured his spot in the playoffs. The top five finishers also included Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric.
