“They Got Caught Fiddling” – Denny Hamlin Unfazed by NASCAR Teams Cheating at Nashville

On the eve of the 2025 Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, NASCAR announced that A.J. Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 team had been penalized for an illegal modification. The team was found guilty of adjusting the car’s splitter after passing pre-qualifying inspection—a clear violation of NASCAR’s rules. As a result, Allmendinger was forced to start at the rear of the field, lost his pit selection, and had to serve a stop-and-go penalty after the green flag.

Hamlin Calls Out Kaulig Racing’s Intent

Denny Hamlin, a veteran of two decades in the Cup Series and driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, was quick to dismiss any notion that Kaulig Racing’s infraction was a simple mistake. Speaking on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, Hamlin stated bluntly, “There’s always intent.” He explained that after cars clear technical inspection and are rolled onto pit road, NASCAR officials closely monitor teams to ensure no further adjustments are made. In this case, the No. 16 team was “caught fiddling,” as Hamlin put it, in an attempt to make their car faster.

Hamlin continued, “That’s the basic premise of it. And what they were trying to do is make their car faster. There’s no other explanation. They can try to spin it any way they want, but they tried to mess with their car after inspection. Obviously, they messed with it in an area that was illegal.”

NASCAR’s Strict Response

NASCAR responded firmly by ejecting Allmendinger’s car chief, Jaron Ansley, from the Nashville event and confiscating his hard card (the credential required for garage access). The sanctioning body made an example of the team, underscoring its zero-tolerance approach to rule violations.

For some fans, this incident raises questions about Kaulig Racing’s previous performances, including Allmendinger’s recent fourth-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600—his best result of the season. The controversy has led to speculation over whether that result, and others, were entirely above board.

Hamlin Unfazed by Cheating Scandal

Despite the drama, Hamlin was not surprised by the penalty. He said, “It wasn’t anything that it was like, ‘Oh my god, did you see what they did?’ That’s not the reaction because it’s like, ‘Okay, they got caught.’” Hamlin’s reaction reflects the reality that, in a sport defined by tiny performance margins, teams will always push the limits—and sometimes get caught.

With the second half of the NASCAR season underway, the stakes are higher than ever. Hamlin hinted that more teams could be caught in the coming weeks, as the pressure to perform intensifies.

Allmendinger’s Future with Kaulig Racing

Amidst the controversy, Kaulig Racing confirmed that A.J. Allmendinger will return to the team’s Cup Series lineup for 2026. Allmendinger, who has secured four top-10 finishes in the first 14 races of 2025, has shown strong form since his return to full-time Cup competition.

Team president Chris Rice praised Allmendinger’s impact, saying, “Someone asked me over the weekend, is AJ coming back next year and I can tell you he is coming back next year and he is going to be Cup racing. When we stepped out on a limb and hired AJ when no one really wanted him, we fell in love with each other and have become best friends. And he has constantly picked us up when we are down in the dumps. Every time, there’s AJ and it doesn’t matter if it’s Cup or Xfinity, he makes us better wherever we need him.”

Allmendinger has not won a Cup Series race since 2023, but he will be targeting several upcoming events—such as the Chicago Street Race, Sonoma Raceway’s Toyota/Save Mart 350, and the Charlotte Roval—as opportunities to return to Victory Lane. However, team owner Matt Kaulig is expected to have stern discussions with the crew to prevent further rule infractions.

The Bigger Picture

The incident at Nashville has sparked debate among fans and insiders: Is A.J. Allmendinger’s recent success tainted by Kaulig Racing’s willingness to bend the rules? As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the No. 16 team to see if they can compete cleanly—and whether NASCAR’s vigilance will catch any more teams pushing the envelope.