The Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway last weekend turned into a chaotic event, marked by a season-high 12 caution periods that slowed the NASCAR Cup Series for 72 laps. The race was less about speed and more about survival, sparking widespread frustration among drivers and fans. Central to the turmoil was the Kyle Larson NASCAR driving controversy, as Larson’s aggressive tactics drew sharp criticism during and after the race.
Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, expressed his anger over the unfolding events with a profanity-filled rant via team radio. However, criticism soon extended beyond him to fellow driver Chase Elliott. Both were called out by Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin, who pointed to their driving as a significant cause of the on-track incidents.
Denny Hamlin Calls Out Competitors and NASCAR’s Lack of Enforcement
On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin openly criticized Larson and Elliott’s driving style, accusing them of intentionally putting other drivers at risk by “laying back” too far before aggressively moving into tight racing lines. Hamlin stated,
“I realized it pretty quick, the only thing you can do is publicly shame, but like Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson laying back three car lengths on the field and then getting a run and going four-wide, that’s what causes the wrecks.” —Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Hamlin emphasized that his frustration was not only with these drivers but also with NASCAR’s officiating, which he believes fails to penalize unsafe tactics. He urged NASCAR to take a stronger stance against dangerous driving practices, saying,
“You’re not allowed to do that, NASCAR is not calling it. It’s what their driving instructor is telling them to do, what I’m calling on is NASCAR officiating to do something about it.” —Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Details of the Larson-Elliott Incident and Its Consequences
During the final stage of the race, Larson and Elliott came into direct contact, which Hamlin says illustrates the problem perfectly. According to him, their strategy disregards the safety of the drivers ahead and results in reckless multi-car situations.
Hamlin described the incident by explaining how Larson and Elliott’s tactic to “lay back” led to them accelerating rapidly and attempting to pass simultaneously in a narrow space, which inevitably caused a crash. He said,
“That’s what happened with the Larson and Chase thing – they laid back so much they must have been running 10 miles an hour faster than the cars in front of them when they all took off and then they both tried to shoot the gap at the same time in the middle. It’s like they both deserved to wreck.” —Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Wider Impact and Calls For Change in NASCAR Culture
The Iowa race controversy reveals broader tensions within the NASCAR community about driving ethics and safety enforcement. Hamlin’s outspoken demand for NASCAR to change how it handles aggressive tactics highlights the ongoing debate about race management and driver responsibility. As frustrations rise, this incident may prompt NASCAR officials to review their officiating approach to prevent similar dangerous situations in future events like Watkins Glen.
With key figures such as Denny Hamlin openly challenging both drivers and NASCAR‘s rules enforcement, the sport faces pressure to address how aggressive driving influences race outcomes and safety. The fallout from the Iowa Corn 350 serves as a significant moment that could lead to stricter regulations or altered race strategies moving forward.
