After the race a week ago in Martinsville, rookie #11-Denny Hamlin blamed #6-Mark Martin for a wreck and claimed basically that the 47-year-old veteran had been wrecking him all year. It all seemed rather shocking since Martin is almost universally praised by fellow drivers for his clean driving style. We talked on Tuesday, said Hamlin. It kind of settles our differences, I guess you could say. I asked him what I could do differently to avoid that from happening, and I basically told him where he did me wrong. We agreed on everything when it was all said and done. Im glad its over with and we can move on. He admitted to things that he did and I admitted to things that I did in the past. Its just one of those things where you learn. We havent raced with each other that much. With time its going to fix itself. Weve got to learn each others driving styles and move on. Im the last driver that wants to start anything with anybody. I spent all last year just trying to get respect from these guys and let them know that I can race with them without controversy, without getting into them. I felt like it was time to stand up for what I thought was right and wrong. I felt good after talking to him because I felt like he understood where I was coming from
Martin was predictably magnanimous. It shouldnt matter if youre a rookie or not, he said, and Denny shouldnt be treated on the race track differently from me. Denny and I have had a conversation since, and I made it clear to Denny that everything that Ive done to him on the race track I would have done to Rusty Wallace, who I respect as much or more than anyone in the garage, or Dale Jarrett. My point was, Dont bring up the rookie thing again, because hes done a fabulous job. Hes been incredibly competitive and respectful and fair on the race track, and the rub that we have had came from he and I not knowing each others style.(Gaston Gazette)(4-9-2006)
