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Denny Hamlin Is Not A Fan Of ValleyStar Credit Union 300 Post-Race Activity At Martinsville That Saw Corey Heim Get Attacked

September 28, 2026  ·
  John Trent

Denny Hamlin made it clear he was not a fan of the post-race activity following the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.

In the final laps of the race, Corey Heim in the No. 22 Nelson Motorsports car battled with Treyten Lapcevich and Caden Kvapil for the win. As they got the white flag, Heim gave Lapcevich the bumper in turns 1 and 2 that got him sideways. After he got it corrected exiting the corner, the two beat and banged down the back stretch. Heim then drove it deep into 3 and 4 and pushed Lapcevich up the track. 

While all that was happening, Kvapil pulled away to get the win. Heim finished second and Lapcevich settled for third.

However, the fireworks between Heim and Lapcevich had not even begun yet. On the cooldown lap, Lapcevich expressed his displeasure by coming down on Heim. Heim responded by running into the side of Lapcevich’s car and then up and over his left front. Heim then crashed into the outside wall while Lapcevich spun to a stop in the outside of turn 2.

Following post-race interviews, Heim was attacked by multiple individuals at the hot dog stand.

Hamlin shared his opinion of all the post-race activity responding to a post from FloRacing’s Matthew Dillner. Dillner wrote on X, “They’ll come a day that we look at the craziness of today a little differently. A brawl after a heat race. A fight at the Martinsville Speedway HotDog Stand? Iconic. Short Track racing is pumped full of passion. Good. Bad. Ugly. Put it in a pot, stir it and it comes out wonderful.”

Hamlin replied, “Not sure what is wonderful about that.”

Dillner responded with a Gif of Hamlin saying, “That’s just short track racing.”

Hamlin was unimpressed writing back, “Uh ok.”

Hamlin did not elaborate past that or share any more of his thoughts, but it’s not hard to imagine that he was not a fan of all the post-race activity given Heim is one of 23XI’s development drivers and will compete with the team full time in the Cup Series beginning in 2027. He most certainly would not describe seeing one of his drivers getting attacked at the hot dog stand as “wonderful.”

NEXT: Todd Bodine Reacts To Corey Heim Getting Attacked Following Martinsville Finish: “Sickening Is Putting It Mildly”

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Author: John Trent