In a fiery new episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, NASCAR driver and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin just unleashed a truth bomb that’s sending shockwaves through the motorsport community. With raw honesty and no filter, Hamlin boldly called out NASCAR’s leadership, accusing them of losing touch with both drivers and die-hard fans.

And social media is exploding.

The catalyst? NASCAR VP Elton Sawyer’s recent defense of the controversial Talladega race, where he praised “67 lead changes” as a metric of success. Hamlin wasn’t buying it. He slammed Sawyer and NASCAR’s top brass for cherry-picking stats to mask deeper problems.

“Don’t let numbers fool you,” Hamlin declared. “If you discredit what your drivers are saying and what your core fans are saying, you lose credibility.”

That comment alone lit a fire across fan forums and Facebook groups, with many echoing Hamlin’s frustration and applauding his courage to speak out.

Hamlin didn’t just stop with the Talladega race. He went straight for the jugular, criticizing NASCAR’s superspeedway package and the much-hyped Next Gen car — which was supposed to revolutionize the sport but has instead faced backlash for unpredictable handling and lackluster short-track performance.

But perhaps his most damning criticism was aimed at NASCAR’s own messaging platform: the Hauler Talk podcast. Rather than repairing the disconnect between the league and its community, Hamlin claims it’s only made things worse.

“Fans are tired of corporate spin. They want authenticity,” he said.

Adding fuel to the fire, Hamlin dropped another bombshell: NASCAR’s now-abandoned “Run What You Brung” All-Star Race concept could have cost teams upwards of $2 million each. He called the idea “financially unrealistic” and “completely out of touch with how teams operate today.”

In a sport where budget constraints already divide top-tier and mid-pack teams, Hamlin warned that such a move would have widened the gap and alienated more fans. His insight as a team co-owner adds weight to his claims — he’s not just speaking from the driver’s seat, but from the boardroom, too.

Hamlin’s comments hit a nerve — not just with officials, but with thousands of longtime NASCAR fans. Polls and social media sentiment reveal a growing dissatisfaction with NASCAR’s direction. From the failed short-track product to inconsistent officiating, fans have been voicing their concerns for years.

Now, with one of the sport’s most influential voices backing them up, those concerns are getting harder for NASCAR to ignore.

On Facebook, the story is spreading like wildfire. Posts about Hamlin’s rant are racking up shares, comments, and likes. Memes mocking NASCAR leadership are going viral. Hashtags like #ListenToDrivers and #FixNASCAR are trending among racing communities.

Hamlin’s mic-drop moment has put NASCAR at a crossroads. Will leadership finally listen and engage in meaningful reform? Or will they double down, dismissing yet another wave of fan and driver feedback?

One thing is certain — the pressure is on. With major media outlets and racing insiders picking up the story, NASCAR’s response (or silence) will speak volumes. In a sport where loyalty runs deep, losing the trust of its base could be disastrous.

If NASCAR wants to remain relevant and grow in the modern era, it may need to take a hard look in the mirror—and start listening to those who know the sport best.

Because as Hamlin warned, “The fans are watching. And they won’t wait forever.”