Every NASCAR Xfinity Fastest Lap Winner in 2026
What’s Happening? The Xfinity Fastest Lap award gives one point to every driver who scores the fastest lap in any points-paying…
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin called on former Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen to show full-time NASCAR drivers respect on track during the latest episode of his podcast.
A moment that was almost lost in the excitement of Corey Heim’s first NASCAR Cup Series win was some late-race beef between former Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen and Noah Gragson.
On board footage from both drivers shows a hard shoving match during a late race restart, followed by Magnussen, who was making his NASCAR Cup Series debut, nudging the No. 4 in the right rear.
Even after the finish of the race, things were not yet resolved between Gragson and the Dane, with video of a post-race argument going viral as Gragson repeatedly asked Magnussen, “What’s your fucking problem?”
Their tough midpack battle and resulting wreck would send Gragson all the way back to 35th by the end of the race. For Magnussen, it was the cherry on top of a strong finish after a challenging start to the day.
His 27th-place finish was one of the better showings of former F1 names taking on NASCAR in recent years, besting Kimi Räikkönen’s two finishes in the No. 91 car.
Better yet, Magnussen did something incredible, becoming the first part-time driver to win the Xfinity fastest lap of the race award this season.
What’s Happening? The Xfinity Fastest Lap award gives one point to every driver who scores the fastest lap in any points-paying…
One name that took notice of Magnussen’s performance was Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who on his podcast Actions Detrimental, complimented the effort put forth in the No. 91.
“I think he did a really good job this weekend,” Hamlin said. “He was fast.”
The veteran also noted Magnussen’s fastest lap win, something that seemingly blew the owner/driver away, with Hamlin adding, “Son of a gun. I mean, that’s freaking impressive.”
Still, Hamlin did not overlook the shoving match with Gragson, taking his peers’ side of the argument and asking Magnussen to show the Front Row Motorsports driver some respect.
“If you’re coming over here for a one-off, you got to show the competitors some respect, who are here full-time.” — Denny Hamlin
The future NASCAR Hall of Famer particularly took issue with the stereotype that NASCAR drivers just drive through each other, a reference to Magnussen’s post-race interview in which he said: “I’ve watched NASCAR before, so I know that’s how you guys play it.”
Hamlin said drivers coming into the sport from other forms of racing with that mindset is something he is not a fan of.
“I guess stereotyping us and NASCAR as ‘Well you guys just run into each other. So, I think it’s okay to just power drive you into turn 12 on lap three,’ I’m not I’m not a huge fan of that.” — Denny Hamlin
Nonetheless, Hamlin was impressed with Magnussen, even if he takes Gragson’s side in the argument.
“I have nothing against him at all. I raced around him a little bit today; he was fine, and I think what he did was wildly impressive,” Hamlin said. “But yeah, I’m gonna have to side with Noah on this one.”
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