Denny Hamlin doesn’t mince his words, and it was no different when asked about how Ryan Preece’s appeal process was going to turn out. 

Denny Hamlin labeled the NASCAR appeal process a 'one-sided fight' following a heavy penalty issued to Ryan Preece. The veteran driver questioned the system's transparency after RFK Racing's driver was fined $50,000 for intentional contact in Texas.

The #60 RFK Racing driver was fined and penalised for what NASCAR felt was intentional, premeditated contact on JGR’s Ty Gibbs on Lap 102 of the race in Texas. Preece was hit with a 25-point penalty and a hefty $50,000 fine, a decision that has since been appealed by RFK Racing.

While the National Motorsports Appeal Panel is yet to hear Preece’s side of the matter, 23XI co-owner and #11 driver for JGR, Denny Hamlin, said that it’s going to be a tough one for Preece and RFK.

“People think, 'Oh, they have the appeals and stuff,’ and we did a podcast after ours a couple of years ago, and it’s not a fair fight. It’s not broadcast for a reason,” said Hamlin on his Actions Detrimental podcast after the race at Watkins Glen.

Hamlin did, however, say that there is a legitimate chance that Preece and RFK can have it overturned. But drawing from his own experience from 2023, where he put Ross Chastain into the wall intentionally but wasn’t handed a penalty until he made his intentions clear on his podcast later, Hamlin hinted at inconsistencies in the viewing of SMT data for each incident.

Hamlin said, “I find it interesting that they’re now using SMT as a comp for evidence. When I brought it up, they said, ‘Oh, SMT is a very non-scientific way of looking at things. We don’t put a lot of faith in that.’ And you can’t rebut anything when they start giving their side to this independent panel.”

Explaining how it would go down, Hamlin said, “There is no ‘I object, that’s not true.’ You can’t say that. You have to sit there and let them say whatever they want to say. The process is not a fair fight for the ones appealing.”

Hamlin and Dale Jr Views Align on Preece Penalty

When two of the most vocal people align in their thoughts on a particular incident, then you know there is a problem. Hamlin said, “It was surprising.”

Dale Jr., who spoke about the incident, talked about the inconsistencies and said that while Kyle Busch’s shove on John Hunter Nemechek also didn’t deserve a penalty, it was actually more dangerous and aggressive. But he said neither warranted a penalty, in his opinion.

Dale Jr. replied to a post by Jeff Gluck on X about the penalty: “Chance for overturning it very low. But if they can reduce the points, it’s a big win.”

Hamlin pointed at the inconsistencies, speaking about the Busch-Nemechek incident, “I hear them in their explanation say, well, you know, after he got damage, he was having to turn left to go straight, according to the SMT. It was SMT, so now SMT is a reliable source. They’ve changed their mind.”

What are your thoughts on NASCAR giving a heavy penalty to Ryan Preece?

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Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi