Denny Hamlin reacts to Erik Jones-Kyle Larson incident, explains pushing different manufacturers

Denny Hamlin shared what happened between Erik Jones and Kyle Larson during the final laps of the Daytona race. On the Actions Detrimentalpodcast, Hamlin explained the incident and the different manufacturers pushing each other.

“I think Larson mentioned that in his post-race. He was asked about kind of pushing Erik Jones there, if he thought that was fair or foul,” Denny Hamlin said. “He was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know.’ He’s like, ‘If I was driving a Ford, you just kind of lock on, and those cars take off.’ He’s saying that Chevys and Toyotas, the way to keep their line moving, is to hit.”

“I think there’s a balance there,” Hamlin continued. “Larson is one of those who is very aggressive at the end of races. If he has a run, he usually doesn’t lift. No matter what speed you’re going in front of him, he doesn’t lift. He’ll hit you, so you got to be really ready, right? You got to be really ready on the wheel because it’s just the closing rate of speed.”

Denny Hamlin shares more on Kyle Larson shoving Erik Jones

When talking about the incident with Erik Jones and Kyle Larson, Hamlin said Larson got Jones “out of shape.” Hamlin then added that “Larson was just trying to keep his line moving and give whoever was in front of him a shot.”

Jones was up front late in the race when Larson shoved him. He fell back but worked his way back up front, finishing fifth. Jones was still not happy, though, as he needed to win at Daytona to clinch a playoff spot.

After the race, Larson explained what happened. “I’m just trying to hit him and get our lane going,” Larson told Dustin Long of NBC Sports. “I feel like the Fords you can just really lock on to and push. Like Toyotas and Chevys, we don’t latch bumpers very well, so I feel like the slams help advance the lane more. Maybe he thinks differently. I did get him a little out of shape one time, I think, and then I think that’s when I got by him.”