Chaos erupted at Martinsville Speedway during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 last year, a race that set the stage for the championship showdown and left an indelible mark on the season. William Byron emerged victorious, clinching his spot in the Championship 4 with a hard-fought win, finishing ahead of teammate Kyle Larson and playoff contender Christopher Bell in a race that saw 11 cautions and fierce battles down the stretch. “It was intense—every lap felt like a war,” one observer remarked, capturing the high stakes and aggressive driving that defined the day. More importantly, it became controversial for the aggressive action drivers took for their OEM allies.
That conversation has only exploded after the 2025 Xfinity race at the track. 14 cautions, a red flag, and some hard driving by guys such as Sammy Smith and Taylor left everybody upset. It was so bad that over 100 laps were run under caution, and the racing world could not stop talking about it.
Brad Keselowski, co-owner and driver with RFK Racing, finally weighed in on March 31, 2025, with a firm view: the answer is team owners, not NASCAR. “I’ve been really quiet on this over the last few days but it’s clear this is important to fix and also clear that it’s bigger than 1 race weekend. My 2 cents- The solution needs to come from the car owners not NASCAR…..”
Keselowski’s proposal hinges on a collective stand by team owners, suggesting they bench drivers who cross the line—a radical shift in a sport where funding from sponsors often dictates decisions. His logic stems from his dual role as a driver and owner, giving him insight into the financial tightrope teams walk, yet he argues that short-term losses could yield long-term stability if owners unite to curb reckless behavior.
But not everyone sees eye-to-eye with Keselowski‘s suggestion. Enter Chris Gabehart, Denny Hamlin’s old crew chief, who shot back with a differing opinion that‘s got everyone abuzz. Gabehart wasn’t coy on X, firing back at Keselowski directly: “I have immense respect for @keselowski, but I just don’t get this. In what other sport does the TEAM penalize a player for a flagrant foul? Answer: No other sport. This is simply a flagrant foul. The refs have to be willing to blow the whistle. Even if they get a call wrong every now and then. That, over some time, is when it will stop.”
I’ve been really quiet on this over the last few days but it’s clear this is important to fix and also clear that it’s bigger than 1 race weekend.
My 2 cents- The solution needs to come from the car owners not NASCAR. Until the car owners are willing to park their drivers for… https://t.co/JvJw1q4X4A
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) March 31, 2025
Gabehart’s remarks are reminiscent of the old-fashioned way of doing business—let the officials decide, make the hard calls, and set the tone. He’s basically challenging NASCAR to be more of the “refs” and less owners to be the bad guys. And why not? When Joe Gibbs Racing came up with a clever way to deal with loose tires, NASCAR had a ruling made around tire safety for the next race.
And NASCAR has a free hand when it comes to these rulings. Last year, when Austin Dillon took Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano out, the hammer came down on him, and it came down hard. His playoff eligibility was taken away. And Gabehart does make an important point. NASCAR dangles the carrot with the win and you’re in system. It’s only natural for them to use the stick when drivers take aggressive action.
Others, like former driver Kyle Petty, have called out the lack of respect among younger drivers. On Kevin Harvick’s “Happy Hour” podcast, Petty said, “Nobody starts telling these kids at 12 and 13: ‘Respect your equipment, respect that other driver and respect his ability.’ People think it’s OK to dive into the last corner and take somebody out.”
It’s a cold reality check for a sport that has long prided itself on tough racing but now has a threshold crossed too frequently.
So, where do we go from here? Keselowski’s idea of the team owners intervening is bold, but Gabehart’s call for NASCAR to intervene feels like the simpler solution. One thing’s for sure—this conversation won‘t be forgotten anytime soon, and NASCAR’s next move might decide the future of the Xfinity Series.
Denny Hamlin Calls Out NASCAR to Tackle Austin Cindric’s Aggressive Driving
Denny Hamlin isn’t taking any of Austin Cindric’s on-track intimidation. Hamlin called out Cindric on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, urging NASCAR to do something about Cindric’s driving before it gets any worse. It’s not the first time Cindric’s actions have caused tongues to wag. His block at COTA dropped him from 11th to 35th in the points, and fans are still split over whether the penalty was warranted. But Hamlin’s complaint rings true—NASCAR needs to act fast to keep racing both fair and safe.
Hamlin didn’t mince words, saying, “A foul is a foul. I don’t care if it’s a road course or an oval. If you hook someone in the right rear, that’s a blatant move. NASCAR has to call it like they see it.” He’s referring to Cindric’s incident at Circuit of The Americas on March 2, 2025, where Cindric spun out Ty Dillon by hooking his right rear. NASCAR fined Cindric $50,000 and docked him 50 points, but many, including Hamlin, felt that wasn’t enough.
Hamlin went deeper, pointing out how NASCAR’s hesitation is creating bigger problems. “If they let this slide, what’s next? Drivers will keep pushing the limits, and someone’s going to get hurt,” he warned. He also suggested a fix, saying, “Look at the SMT data. It’ll show exactly what Cindric did—whether he turned into Dillon on purpose. That’s how you determine intent.” Hamlin’s frustration is clear: he wants consistency and accountability in the sport he loves.
What do you think, fans? Should NASCAR crack down harder on Cindric, or is Hamlin overreacting? Let’s hear your thoughts!
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