Ty Dillon, often overlooked in the NASCAR Cup Series, stunned many at the inaugural In-Season Challenge on Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta by knocking out favored driver Denny Hamlin in the first round. Dillon, representing Kaulig Racing and seeded last out of 32 drivers, outperformed Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner with Joe Gibbs Racing, eliminating him from contention for the $1 million prize and the championship title.
This unexpected upset generated a buzz across the NASCAR community, with Dillon celebrating this career milestone emphatically after finishing eighth at Atlanta, while Hamlin suffered a 31st-place result after being involved in a multi-car crash.
How Ty Dillon’s Post-Race Comments Stirred Emotions
After his surprising victory over Hamlin, Dillon took a direct jab at Hamlin’s fanbase during his post-race interview. Mimicking Hamlin’s own tradition of taunting rival fans, Dillon announced,
“All you Denny fans out there: I just knocked your favorite driver out,”
showcasing his enthusiasm and pride after the upset. With 263 Cup Series starts and still no wins, Dillon’s bold statement gained significant attention.
Unsurprisingly, Hamlin’s supporters were offended by Dillon’s remarks, sparking reactions on social media. However, Hamlin himself responded to the barb with a calm and surprisingly positive approach, showing his ability to accept humor aimed his way rather than turning defensive.
Denny Hamlin’s Calm and Respectful Reaction to Dillon’s Challenge
When informed about Dillon’s comments, Hamlin addressed his fans and critics alike on his weekly podcast, urging everyone to allow Dillon his moment to shine. He explained,
“I see people (on social media) giving Ty Dillon a lot of flack. Ty Dillon, give him his moment, people. He beat me.”
Hamlin went further to describe how Dillon was ahead throughout the race before Hamlin was caught in the crash, saying,
“He was ahead of me the whole (expletive) race. I was 33rd until we crashed. Just let him have his moment.”
This highlights Hamlin’s sportsmanship despite the competitive tension.
Dillon later reached out to Hamlin to clarify that his remarks were meant playfully. Hamlin shared this with listeners:
“He texted me, and he was like, ‘Hey, I was just playing around.’ I was like, ‘Bro, I loved it.’”
Hamlin’s Message to Critics and Personal Perspective on Rivalry
Hamlin also took the opportunity to address detractors who might try to mock him for the loss and Dillon’s comments. Emphasizing his resilience, he stated,
“If you people think that you are going to hurt my feelings by coming in my mentions and saying, ‘Haha, (expletive) Ty Dillon beat you,’ you’re never going to make fun of me more than I’m going to make fun of myself. Ever. Ever.”
He added,
“You’re not going to offend me. I have really, really, really thick skin.”
Acknowledging his own role as a provocative figure in NASCAR, Hamlin reflected on the risks of that image, admitting,
“You open yourself up when you do that. The moments you fail, they’re going to give it to you, but you’ve got to be a big boy and take it. And I am going to take it from Ty Dillon.”
This honesty reveals Hamlin’s understanding of the challenges that come with his competitive demeanor and public personality.
