During the finale of last Sunday’s Daytona 500, Riley Herbst of 23XI Racing made a sudden move to the right in front of Brad Keselowski from RFK Racing, aiming to gain the lead by receiving a push. However, Keselowski had strong momentum, and Herbst’s late maneuver resulted in a collision, disrupting the closing laps as Tyler Reddick crossed the finish line first. The incident stirred heated reactions, framing a highly debated moment in the race.
While many criticized Herbst’s timing as overly aggressive and poorly executed, his team owner Denny Hamlin offered a contrasting perspective during his podcast, Actions Detrimental. Hamlin argued that Herbst’s actions were an attempt to avoid contact and that Keselowski’s surge was not inevitable, drawing widespread backlash from the racing community and fans.
Denny Hamlin’s Perspective Sparks Backlash
Hamlin defended Herbst by explaining that the young driver was closing in quickly on Chase Elliott’s No. 9 car and chose to slow rather than collide, opting to go high instead. He stated,
“Coming to the line, Riley is coming up really fast to the No. 9 [Chase Elliott]. Instead of hitting him, and probably then, shooting him past the No. 45 [Tyler Reddick], he hits the brake to not hit him. He says, ‘I don’t wanna touch him. So, I am gonna go high.’ That slowing in momentum allowed the No. 6 [Keselowski] to get there. The No. 6 was not getting there. We are living in fairy tale land if people think the No. 6 was gonna get there.”
– Denny Hamlin, Team Owner
Hamlin’s co-host Jared Allen immediately challenged this view by pointing out Keselowski’s evident speed and momentum. Fans quickly sided with Allen, accusing Hamlin of being biased toward his driver and team. One commenter on X criticized Hamlin’s statement, saying,
“This is definitely one of his worst takes. He’s just coping, though. He wants to believe Reddick would’ve won either way when that definitely isn’t objectively true lol.”
Another fan expressed frustration over Hamlin’s repeated partiality regarding his drivers, sharing on social media,
“I like ‘Actions Detrimental’, but man it seems Denny is incapable of being objective with anything regarding 23XI or JGR. ‘The 6 was NOT getting there. We’re living in fairy tail land if anybody thinks the 6 was getting there.’ Even Jared called him on it..
– Jeff Bluck-Gianchi, NASCAR Commentator
Additional criticism highlighted Hamlin’s perspective as unrealistic, urging him to watch expert race analysis for a more balanced view:
“Denny’s view is highly improbable and very skewed. Needs to view Letarte & McMurrays Inside the Race on YouTube.”
Despite the backlash, many fans expressed disappointment rather than anger, hoping Hamlin would clarify his stance in future podcasts.
Riley Herbst and Brad Keselowski React to the Incident
After the race, Herbst defended his actions in a post-race interview, explaining his intention to finish side-by-side with Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick in what he described as a tight, three-wide photo finish. He admitted uncertainty about what exactly triggered the crash, suggesting it was a matter of inches.
Keselowski, however, expressed clear displeasure regarding Herbst’s late move, criticizing it as reckless:
“Oh, the [No.] 35 [Herbst] just wrecked me out of nowhere for no reason. That was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. He had no chance of blocking my run. Pretty stupid.”
– Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing Driver
As tensions linger, it remains to be seen how Keselowski might respond to Hamlin’s defense of Herbst in the coming days. Drivers are now focusing on the forthcoming race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Autotrader 400, a similar superspeedway event scheduled for next weekend.
Implications for Team Dynamics and Upcoming Races
The controversy surrounding the Riley Herbst Daytona controversy has placed an intense spotlight on 23XI Racing’s internal dynamics and public relations, especially with Denny Hamlin defending his driver amid fan skepticism. This incident underscores the pressures young drivers face in high-stakes moments and the challenges veteran team owners encounter when balancing loyalty and objectivity.
With the Autotrader 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway approaching, all eyes will be on how Herbst, Keselowski, and Hamlin manage this fallout on and off the track. The ongoing debate about driving tactics and race finishes at superspeedway events remains a defining narrative as the NASCAR season progresses.
This is definitely one of his worst takes. He’s just coping though. He wants to believe Reddick would’ve won either way when that definitely isn’t objectively true lol
— Emil Borchert (@EmilBorchert) February 17, 2026
I like ‘Actions Detrimental’, but man it seems Denny is incapable of being objective with anything regarding 23XI or JGR.
“The 6 was NOT getting there. We’re living in fairy tail land if anybody thinks the 6 was getting there.”
😑😒
Even Jared called him on it..cc @keselowski pic.twitter.com/jOQQJy2pRi
— "Shine" the Mechanic (@MechanicShine) February 16, 2026
