Denny Hamlin has been highly critical of the decisions made by NASCAR in the past. NASCAR is well-known for its controversial choices, and recently there have been numerous decisions coming from the governing body. One such decision was the removal of the scoring pylon at Talladega Speedway, as it was considered outdated. This decision received backlash from drivers throughout the field, with JGR’s Hamlin being the most vocal.
Scoring pylons have been a long-standing tradition in NASCAR, helping teams and drivers quickly determine their current position. However, over time, these pylons have become outdated. Despite this, they were kept due to the series’ adherence to tradition. Unfortunately, Talladega became the second victim of this controversial decision, as the pylons were also removed from Texas Motor Speedway, which hosted last week’s race.
NASCAR believed that large screens at the circuits could replace the scoring pylons, allowing people to view the pecking order. This decision infuriated Denny Hamlin, as he believed it took away from the essence of the sport. He suggested that instead of completely removing the pylons, NASCAR could have updated them to continue conveying the necessary information.
Hamlin’s anger towards the pylon removal was not swayed when people explained the reasons behind the decision. Even when The Athletic’s post on X explained to the 43-year-old that the equipment was outdated and NASCAR wanted fans to use the NASCAR app on their smartphones to check the order, Hamlin dismissed these reasons. He pointed out that fans would have to divert their attention from the racing spectacle to look at their phones, which is not what they should be doing.
Despite Hamlin’s concerns, it appears unlikely that NASCAR will reverse its decision. It is also anticipated that scoring pylons may be removed from other circuits, potentially resulting in the loss of the essence of NASCAR tracks.