Denny Hamlin dives deep with Kenny Wallace into Kyle Larson rivalry

As the rivalry between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson heats up, at least one of the drivers is trying to keep things framed in the right context. It can get downright dangerous otherwise.

So while Hamlin is certainly friends with Larson off the track, he knows that when it’s go-time, there are no more pleasantries.

Not after Larson has seemingly tried to use contact to force his way past Hamlin, like he did when he instead wiped out Ross Chastain at Nashville two weeks ago. Incidents like that have made it easier for Hamlin to realize there are two relationships — on the track and off it.

organization. He’s finally getting that top equipment that the rest of us have got and now he’s showing what his ability is.

“What I’ve learned over time, though, is that it is very difficult to keep a friendship on the racetrack as well. I think that you have to be able to separate those two things. So I think that while kind of our relationship is not as close as it once was, I kind of wish it was, but I’m also OK if it isn’t, because I think that we need to continue to push as much as we can to win for ourselves and our own team.”