‘Almost NASCAR champion’ Hamlin feuds with track owner in social media spat that turned personal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One of NASCAR’s top track owners deleted social media posts made earlier Friday morning in a back-and-forth spat with top driver Denny Hamlin that began when Hamlin criticized the repaving of Sonoma Raceway in California. Marcus Smith, chairman of the Speedway Motorsports conglomerate that owns 10 of the tracks on NASCAR’s Cup Series schedule, took exception to Hamlin’s post that pointed out a Thursday sports car test was canceled because of problems with the new surface on the California road course. Smith told Hamlin that if his father had a “Twitter/X account, I don’t think his comment would be family friendly.” “So listen here, almost NASCAR Champion,” Smith continued, “you keep working at it and one day you’re going to get a big trophy! Thanks for the tip!” Hamlin has won the Daytona 500 three times, but Smith suggested “negative comments would carry a lot more weight if you had a championship to back them up.” Hamlin, under fire all week for jumping the final restart on Sunday to win Richmond, returned to social media Friday jokingly asking for some news to divert attention away from the Toyota driver.