Denny Hamlin expressed strong dissatisfaction with the NASCAR 2026 schedule, giving it a “D plus” grade. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s main concern is the removal of a regular-season points race at Dover Motor Speedway, which has been replaced by next year’s All-Star Race at the Delaware track.
The change at Dover, known among NASCAR fans as the Monster Mile, has sparked controversy among drivers and supporters alike. Hamlin questioned the rationale behind this decision, emphasizing the loyalty and patience of Dover’s fan base over the years.
Hamlin voices frustration over Dover’s lost race
Hamlin stated his disagreement clearly about the schedule adjustments affecting Dover Motor Speedway. He said,
“D plus, I don’t know,” Denny Hamlin said of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. “Definitely taken away from Dover, I don’t necessarily agree with that. I don’t know what kind of tricks you make to kind of make that race compelling, but certainly I think that Dover fans endured a lot of heat for a lot of time to have some races taken away.”
Despite Hamlin’s concern for the Dover community, many fans responded sharply to his remarks on social media platform X. Some dismissed his complaints as whining and pointed to his lack of championships.
Social media backlash against Hamlin’s comments
Fan reactions to Hamlin’s critique were quick and often harsh. Among the responses:
“Dudes a dud. Always whining. Oh, and 0 championships.”
“He hates everything… he needs to find something to do that he actually likes.”
“Of course denny doesn’t like it,” a fan commented.
“What a crybaby bitch,” wrote another.
“What a shocker that the most negative driver in the sport doesn’t like the schedule,” someone added.
“Denny doesn’t like anything NASCAR is doing because they are beating him in court,” another fan chimed in.
Notable changes in the 2026 NASCAR schedule
The 2026 calendar includes several key updates beyond Dover’s All-Star Race shift. North Wilkesboro Speedway will return to hosting a points race for the season, a fresh addition that excites many fans. Meanwhile, NASCAR is introducing a street event at Chicagoland Speedway, which replaces the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez venue in Mexico City.
Looking ahead, the 2025 regular season is set to conclude at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 23. This 400-lap race will air live on Peacock starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, with radio coverage available via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Hamlin praises Goodyear for improved tire performance at Richmond
Following the recent race at Richmond Raceway, Hamlin commended Goodyear for delivering tires that enhanced the competition at the Virginia short track. On his Actions Detrimental Podcast, he highlighted the importance of the new tire compound and its effect on the race pace.
“It was good to see a great short-track race. Some great tire fall-off. Thank you Goodyear, for bringing a tire that had over two to two-and-a-half seconds of fall-off. Fantastic!”
“Richmond was kind of one of the very first short-tracks that was getting the, ‘Oh man, this is kind of boring’ type-feel, right? It’s good to see that the tires do matter,” he added.
Hamlin secured his 13th top-10 finish of the season in that race. Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon won the event and clinched a playoff spot, followed by Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric rounding out the top five.