Ryan Blaney’s commanding victory at the Cracker Barrel 400 on June 1, 2025, at Nashville Superspeedway was eclipsed by a fiery controversy as Denny Hamlin unleashed an eight-word accusation against Team Penske: “They tricked me out of it, plain and simple.” Blaney, driving the No. 12 Ford, led 140 of 300 laps to secure his first win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, locking in a playoff spot and ending a run of five DNFs in the first 13 races. However, Hamlin’s claim that Penske’s bold green-flag pit strategy was a deliberate “trick” to steal his lead sparked intense debate among fans and analysts.
The drama unfolded during a critical green-flag pit cycle late in the race. Hamlin, piloting the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, had dominated early, leading 79 laps and winning Stage 1. On Lap 255, his team opted for four fresh tires to chase speed in the final stretch. Meanwhile, Blaney’s crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, called him in earlier on Lap 249, allowing Blaney to cycle back to the lead by Lap 269 as Hamlin struggled through lapped traffic. The move proved decisive, with Blaney holding a 2.83-second gap over Carson Hocevar at the checkered flag, while Hamlin settled for third behind Joey Logano.
Hamlin, visibly furious, told Prime Video’s Marty Snider that Penske exploited a “crazy rule” in NASCAR’s pit road speed and fuel window dynamics. “It’s not just strategy—it’s a setup,” he fumed, arguing the early pit stop was designed to manipulate the cycle and trap him in traffic. His crew chief, Chris Gabehart, called the tactic “slick” but admitted Penske “played the game better.” Blaney brushed off the accusations, stating, “We saw the chance and took it. That’s racing, not tricking.” Hassler echoed this, noting the strategy was standard, seen in races like Darlington, and NASCAR officials confirmed no rules were violated.
The controversy lit up social media, with fans divided. @RubbinIsRacing on X called Penske’s move “genius,” while @NASCARFanatic24 told Hamlin to “take the L and move on.” The race itself was no stranger to drama. Christopher Bell spun after contact with Erik Jones in Stage 2, damaging his No. 20 Toyota but recovering to a top-10 finish. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was knocked out in 39th after Carson Hocevar’s aggressive move sent him into the Turn 4 wall, prompting Stenhouse to warn, “He’ll see me again soon.” Kyle Larson battled an early loose wheel, forcing an unscheduled stop but salvaging eighth.
This clash adds fuel to the Joe Gibbs Racing-Team Penske rivalry, with Hamlin, sitting third in the playoff standings with two wins, vowing to regroup. Blaney, now 11th and 89 points above the playoff cutline, celebrated with a burnout and handed the checkered flag to a young fan, focusing on the win rather than the feud. As the series heads to Michigan’s FireKeepers Casino 400 on June 8, all eyes are on whether Hamlin will seek payback. Posts on X, like one from @SpeedTalker predicting “Michigan’s gonna be wild,” suggest this drama is far from over
