NASCAR News: Denny Hamlin weighs in on controversial penalty decisions

Denny Hamlin has weighed in on the penalty levied against Ryan Preece by NASCAR this week – and the one not given to Kyle Busch.

Preece was docked 25 points and fined $50,000 for 'intentionally wrecking' Ty Gibbs at Texas last Sunday, having previously ranted on team radio that he was 'done with' the No. 54 car.

His RFK Racing team have already announced that they will be appealing the decision, an appeal likely to be based around the fact that Preece didn't appear to actually make contact with Gibbs when the Joe Gibbs Racing driver wrecked.

One driver who definitely made contact with a rival in Texas was Kyle Busch, who took out John Hunter Nemechek at the end of the race in what appeared to be a deliberate move – with Busch's subsequent social media posts hinting but not outright saying that was the case.

Hamlin: NASCAR decision was 'opposite' of expected

Hamlin had previously spoken about the Busch incident on his Actions Detrimental podcast this week, and admitted to reporters at Watkins Glen this weekend that he was surprised by the decisions.

"It was certainly opposite than what I would've thought," he said. "But I don't know. They have more information than us bystanders who are just looking at TV and stuff like that, I'm not investigating it, cos I'm not involved."

He added: "Common sense has to be the first rule of thumb. Then you use data to either back up or deny."

The Joe Gibbs Racing star also responded to the re-addition of Watkins Glen to the Chase calendar for next year, not an ideal situation for the road course-averse veteran driver.

“It’s okay,” he said. “Generally, I’m going to favor having fewer road courses on the schedule. Part of that might be because of my performance, if I’m being biased, but I also don’t think the racing on road courses in these cars is as exciting as it is on ovals.”

“I understood there was going to be some pushback this year with no road course on the schedule, so I knew that was coming. I’m fine with Watkins Glen being on it.”