Official Site Of NASCAR

‘That’s just short-track racing!’ Hamlin nods at Logano’s excellence

Alex Cadavid

David Jensen | Getty Images

Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano have spent more than a decade proving one thing: When the stakes are high, they're usually not far apart. Sunday night's NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway was the latest example, with the two veterans spending much of the 450-lap marathon running first and second in another memorable chapter of their rivalry. Tempers often flare at short tracks, with drivers not afraid to make contact inside their cars or out -- a movie we've seen a handful of times between Hamlin and Logano alone. Whether it was a scuffle at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2013 or memorable post-race mockery at Martinsville Speedway in 2019, these two past teammates have had a handful of notable clashes through the years. RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: North Wilkesboro North Wilkesboro offered something different. Instead of another flashpoint, Sunday's battle became a showcase of mutual respect. Hamlin spent much of the night stalking Logano's No. 22 Team Penske Ford but never crossed the line, while Logano withstood the pressure to earn his first victory of the season. After an extra-long celebration, Hamlin sought out Logano on pit road. Gone were the heated exchanges and post-race theatrics that once defined their rivalry. Instead, the two shared a handshake, a thumbs-up and mutual admiration -- an understated moment that reflected just how much both competitors have evolved. Sunday's finish marked just the sixth time Hamlin and Logano have finished 1-2 in a Cup Series race, with each driver owning three victories in those head-to-head results. "Just wildly impressive," Hamlin said post-race. "I thought it was a really impressive drive from him. Maneuvered through traffic really well. Did everything that we know Joey to do." It wasn't the reaction many would have expected from two drivers whose rivalry once produced some of NASCAR's most unforgettable confrontations. But after years of battling one another, appreciation has become just as much a part of the relationship as competition. "The last run was definitely tougher," Logano said. "I ran harder than I wanted to early in the run when Denny was putting the pressure on us. Our weakness was the short run. He got to us. I had to run pretty hard there." A clash that once made headlines for confrontation now has room for acknowledgment, too.