Denny Hamlin reacted to his incident with Kevin Harvick on Saturday at Dover by saying he spoke the truth about Clint Bowyer's team – even if it was unpopular with Richard Childress Racing.
"It's something I've always done – speak my mind – and it's not always in my best interest to do that," he said. "But if someone asks me a question, I'm always going to give my 100 percent honest answer, and that's the best I can do."
Hamlin said he expected Harvick would retaliate for comments the Joe Gibbs Racing driver made toward RCR on Friday, adding that RCR crew members stared at him before practice and made sarcastic comments like, "Have a good day today."
"You know, he got into me on pit road before we even (went onto) the track, so I knew we were going to have to deal with some issues," Hamlin said. "It's unnecessary that the team guys have got to get involved in it, but we're just going to keep focused on winning a championship."
Harvick is a master at playing head games with other drivers, and Hamlin said he was sure this was more of the same from the veteran.
"They've been in the sport a long time and know how to play these games and get in someone's head that's beating you right now," he said. "That was just a small effort on their part."
Hamlin said the garage confrontation between the two teams was just "a lot of cursing" and was a discussion that contained "nothing really logical."
But Hamlin said in spite of what happened on Saturday, he has no regrets about speaking his mind.
"I think I had the right to give my opinion," he said. "When you look at the two teams and you look at the history of wrongdoing and penalties...our integrity speaks for itself. Everyone at our team knows we're trying to do things the right way."
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Denny Hamlin On Harvick Incident: I Told The Truth, No Regrets
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Comments
It's none of Hamlin's business
What is going on at RCR.
"Too much awesome on my feet."-Brian Wilson
"Time for the laser show, boys!"- Aubrey Huff
by 49er16 on Sep 25, 2010 3:51 PM EDT reply actions
It’s absolutely Denny’s business if RCR is trying to cheat their way through a championship.
by Eric Mitz on Sep 25, 2010 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep
Denny has the right to dig the hole as deep as he wants to. Trouble is someone may come along and kick the dirt in on him.
by factfinder on Sep 25, 2010 3:54 PM EDT reply actions
Chase
So – All RCR cars are in the chase (at least until the appeal is decided) and JGR has the 20 outside, with his own ax to grind. Could get interesting.
I like Kevin, but find it confusing the he can gets away with his personality (which closely resembles that of Kyle and Denny).
by kwms on Sep 25, 2010 4:07 PM EDT reply actions
Unnecessary for the crew to get involved Denny? Why? You’re the one that called out the organization and last I checked, the crew guys work for RCR too.
And yeah, JGR’s integrity sure speaks for itself. It’s so honest that they decided to put magnets under their gas pedal to mess with horsepower numbers when they were tested. Not only that, but both crew chiefs involved in that deal still work for JGR and one even got a promotion.
by Jon Doble on Sep 25, 2010 4:09 PM EDT reply actions
It was actually Clint who called out Denny and Jimmie Johnson, so it was RCR who started the entire thing.
I like both Kevin and Denny, but Kevin had no right to do what he did on the track.
by DJ24966 on Sep 25, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
COMPLETELY AGREE
When I actually heard Clint’s media availability with “his” notes “he” wrote that morning, I had to laugh! Hello – PLEASE JUST ADMIT THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE TOLD TO SAY!!!!!
by kwms on Sep 25, 2010 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Denny wouldnt know integrity if it fell in his lap
According to my dictionary integrity means “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty”
So when Kyle and Denny admit to wrecking other drivers I guess that falls under the honesty category?
Wonder how they conclude that the magnets fall under the ‘integrity’ definition.
by Bobbie1231 on Sep 25, 2010 4:24 PM EDT reply actions
That idiot wouldn’t know honesty if it walked up and punched him in the face—-which I can only hope is coming VERY soon. Hoping he finds the wall on the first lap of every race left.
by forevernumber3 on Sep 25, 2010 4:41 PM EDT reply actions
harvick is a punk
if Harvick was really the tough guy that he thinks he is he would’ve confronted denny about his comments before practice not waited until he was driving a 3000lb weapon. What a bitch move. I tweeted denny that he should have Joey take Harvick out Joeys owed the 29 a dump for awhile now. Hope he does it … let JGR show a little team unity
by Kaxxxxxx on Sep 26, 2010 7:13 AM EDT reply actions
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