Picture this: In the adrenaline-fueled chaos of NASCAR racing, where split-second decisions can make or break a championship, drivers face a tough dilemma—do they prioritize team loyalty and help a teammate across the finish line, or do they unleash their inner competitor and go for the win, no holds barred? It's a question that sparks heated debates among fans and pros alike. But here's where it gets controversial: Not every manufacturer plays by the same rules, and one driver's recent words are flipping the script on what it means to race 'for the team.'
You've probably seen it in action with Toyota's fierce approach, especially from Denny Hamlin, who juggles roles as both a skilled driver and a team owner. When the race starts, he's all business—ready to battle anyone in his path, regardless of alliances. He believes non-playoff drivers should support their playoff-bound teammates, but if a fellow contender, even from his own squad, gets in the way, expect no mercy. It's a philosophy that's as cutthroat as it is strategic.
Take the New Hampshire incident, for instance. Joe Gibbs Racing's Ty Gibbs, who wasn't in the playoffs, held his ground against Hamlin in a fight for 11th place. Frustrated, Hamlin didn't hesitate—he nudged Gibbs toward the wall, ending his day prematurely. Hamlin was clear: he won't back down, even against his own non-playoff teammate. And at Kansas, he went wheel-to-wheel with Bubba Wallace from his 23XI Racing team right through the final corner. Sure, it opened the door for Chase Elliott to sneak in for the victory, but Hamlin's message was loud and clear—behind the wheel, he's a racer first, owner second, with no room for favoritism.
Now, switch gears to Ford, and the vibe is totally different. Drivers like Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano from Team Penske champion clean, collaborative racing. It's all about teamwork and avoiding unnecessary risks. Chris Buescher, ahead of the Talladega race, echoed this perfectly. He knows exactly what's expected when racing alongside Blaney or Logano. 'You’re always aware of it. We’re aware of it throughout the playoffs,' he said in a recent interview (check it out at https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/615588-ryan-blaney-and-chris-buescher-provide-talladega-outlook/#google_vignette).
Buescher stressed the importance of steering clear of race manipulation, which has been a hot topic lately. 'I think there’s been a pretty clear warning set for race manipulation right now, so I think that there’s certainly a finicky way to go about that and I don’t want to be caught up in that, and I don’t want anybody to ever accuse me of laying over for anybody, so ultimately we are still going to the racetrack to win a race. That’s not something that you would pull over or give anything away.'
And this is the part most people miss: Buescher admits there's a delicate balance. In tricky spots—like a daring four-wide maneuver—he weighs things carefully. But deep down, every driver shows up with one goal: to find victory. When pressed on loyalty in the closing laps, he didn't mince words: 'Yeah, and that’s always been the case. It doesn’t really matter if it’s the playoffs or not.'
As a driver for RFK Racing (learn more at https://thesportsrush.com/tag/chris-buescher/), Buescher highlighted how manufacturer alliances shine at superspeedways—those massive, high-speed tracks where drafting and strategy are king. Drivers team up, coordinating pit stops and fuel-saving tactics as a group. 'That’s always the case,' he explained. 'It doesn’t change just because we’re coming down to the end here.' For beginners confused by superspeedways, think of them like Daytona or Talladega: oval tracks where cars reach blistering speeds, often leading to pack racing and strategy shifts that can decide the outcome.
But here's a controversial twist—some argue that prioritizing manufacturer loyalty over individual glory could stifle the excitement of true competition. Is this noble teamwork or just a way to play it safe? Does it make the sport more predictable, or does it build stronger rivalries in the long run? What do you think—should drivers like Buescher bend the rules for the team, or is Hamlin's aggressive style the way to keep NASCAR thrilling? Drop your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a different take entirely!
About the author
Neha Dwivedi (find her work at https://thesportsrush.com/author/nehadwivedi/)
Neha Dwivedi is a seasoned NASCAR journalist at The SportsRush, with more than 3,000 articles under her belt on the sport. Her writing career predates her NASCAR passion, but she's fully immersed now. While she cheers for legends like Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, she also roots for up-and-coming stars in series like CARS Late Model and ARCA Menards. Her NASCAR reporting has earned praise from respected voices like Susan Wade of The Athletic, and even drivers such as Thad Moffit and Corey Lajoie. One of her favorite NASCAR memories? Seeing Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. lift those championship trophies. Beyond racing, Neha dives into books, exploring both fiction and non-fiction worlds.
