Denny Hamlin Questions Legitimacy of NASCAR Overtime After Kansas Heartbreak

While he keeps getting wins as a team owner with Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin wants to be the one winning. Reddick and Hamlin put on a great show, but it was overtime that gave Reddick new life and eventually, the win in the NASCARCup Series at Kansas.

Denny Hamlin is always open to talking about whatever topic of the day is going on in the sport. When he gets behind the mic, it's all on the table.

Following another race where Hamlin was leading at the scheduled distance, but lost in overtime, the NASCAR veteran is questioning if overtime ruins the legitimacy of the sport. Admittedly, he has a bias, but does he have a point?

"Boy, I mean, for God's sakes, if there's one person that doesn't like them, it's me," Hamlin explained on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast. "I don't know. We did it for the sake of entertainment decades ago, it feels like. I don't know, I feel it's part of our sport now. It's tough to ... yes, tough to go back on that one. ... I'd have a hell of a lot more wins and definitely a championship or so."

Hamlin settled for P3. He scored a good chunk of points. He's second in points. So, why is he so upset? Well, with his career seemingly ending after 2027, the window to stack up wins is closing for the 45 year old driver.

"Well, I mean, if... Yeah, yes is the short answer," Hamlin explained. "Because this is a 400 mile race, oh no, this is a 406 mile race. We're going to change it up, because, you know what I mean? There's an advertised distance and there's an actual distance. ... So, I don't know. It is what it is. I try to figure out how to take solace in it, but it's like, well, everyone knew we were fast, that's great. We scored a lot of points, that's cool. But it's the wins that matter to me."

Denny Hamlin was fast on Sunday at Kansas. So, there is a little solace to take from that. There is a lot of racing left in the season and a lot of wins to be had. Will NASCAR ever change the overtime rule, or will it be here to stay no matter what?

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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 1:09 PM.