Denny Hamlin: I’m Keeping My NASCAR Opinions To Myself This Year

Does it seem like Denny Hamlin is quieter this year? It certainly does to me.

A year ago at Michigan International Speedway, Hamlin took to the media center podium to say NASCAR debris cautions were “show business” – which created a stir both at MIS and the following week at Sonoma.

Later in the summer, Hamlin made comments about the sport’s integrity on his Twitter account and was subsequently fined $50,000 by NASCAR. And in September, he slammed Clint Bowyer’s team at Dover for its Chase penalty and drew the ire of Richard Childress Racing.

Look at Hamlin now: The once-outspoken driver seems to have clammed up in terms of offering his opinions publicly, both in interviews and on Twitter.

I asked Hamlin on Friday whether the perception he’s now quieter is a fair one, or whether he’s still as outspoken as always. Here’s how he answered:

I’ve scaled back, because you’re more open to criticism and putting yourself out there to get into something that you don’t want to be part of. Of course, if you could just say your opinion all the time with no retribution, then everyone would; but you have to face that (retribution) at some point.

Obviously, last year, talking about certain issues, it sidetracks you from on-track stuff. It really does. It gets you in a situation you don’t want to be in.

For me, I’ve just kind of kept opinions to myself for that reason, because you can face retribution from NASCAR, other teams and things like that.

It’s better if you have your opinion to just keep it to yourself, because we’re in a big business where anything that you say is going to be opened up to a lot of people. It’s just not been worth it for me, so I’ve just kind of kept to myself.