Regarding the contentious arrival of British racer Katherine Legge at Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin offered his thoughts. After expressing sympathy for Legge, he brought up the driver approval issue, which NASCAR needs to solve. For background, even though Katherine Legge didn’t have a long history of racing stock cars, she was allowed to compete at Phoenix Raceway. She crashed off turn two as a lapped driver and left the race early on lap 215. In contrast, Hamlin finished in second place, which was his best result of the season. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver stated (via Frontstretch): “There probably needs to be a stricter process than what it is,” in reference to Legge and NASCAR’s permission procedure.
I feel sorry for Katherine [Legge], thus I detest how things transpired last week. [3:07] The Legge’s performance in the earlier sessions delighted Denny Hamlin, but he clarified that it’s a different ballgame to compete against Cup drivers on Sundays. “Again, you get out there, things are different in the race but it’s like I hate it for her… and it’s probably not fair to her that she’s kind of getting the brunt of all the scrutiny.” [3:33] Having previously introduced rookie stock car drivers like Kamui Kobayashi to the premier series, the owner of 23XI Racing feels that the Katherine Legge scenario should serve as a wake-up call for NASCAR.
However, it does and should make NASCAR realize that we are not very tight about who is allowed to drive Cup cars. Additionally, it need to be the most prestigious series and not just be available anytime you want,” Hamlin stated. “You would like to see it a bit more strict, of course.” Daniel Suarez, a fellow NASCAR driver who was picked up by Katherine Legge on lap 215 as well, did not hold the British driver responsible. Suarez criticized NASCAR for permitting drivers with no prior stock car experience to compete in the Cup Series. Legge expressed embarrassment for the Phoenix Raceway mishap, but she also promised to keep becoming better at driving stock cars. NASCAR has updated the Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) for the time being.
Only if more than 40 cars are eligible for a race will the provisional position be awarded. Before the race in Las Vegas, Denny Hamlin traveled to Disney with a driver from 23XI Racing. Disney took Denny Hamlin on an off-track adventure prior to the Pennzoil 400. Tyler Reddick, a driver for 23XI Racing, and their families accompanied him as they visited the Las Vegas strip’s Immersive Disney Animation. “Had a great time at the Immersive Disney Animation in Las Vegas,” Hamlin posted on Instagram. We appreciate being invited by @lhimmersive [Lighthouse Immersive]. Two drivers, including Tyler Reddick, are part of 23XI Racing, a Toyota-affiliated NASCAR Cup Series team that is co-owned by six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
Reddick drives the No. 45 Toyota Camry alongside teammate Bubba Wallace. The NASCAR drivers gear up for the fifth race of the 2025 season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday. The race will start at 3:30 p.m. ET.
