Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a physical endurance match for many of the drivers. Following the race, Bubba Wallace and Josh Bilicki sought treatment in the infield care center, while several other drivers — such as Ryan Newman — looked absolutely drained.
After finishing the race in 27th, Corey LaJoie took to Twitter to share his workout data following the event, and according to his heart rate throughout the four hours of racing, LaJoie burned nearly 3,000 calories.
Brutal. I’ve got to eat 28 @bar_built to make up these calories. pic.twitter.com/ApQKVk4lXr
— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) June 7, 2020
Following LaJoie sharing his information, he got what seemed to be a friendly jab from Denny Hamlin, who finished fifth in the race and had a much lower heart rate and subsequently burned about a thir of the calories that LaJoie did in the same event.
No wonder we could never count on you in the 4th quarter.. pic.twitter.com/1X66DPq4Jn
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) June 7, 2020
In LaJoie’s defense, he does drive for Go Fas Racing, which is a team that has improved mightily over the last few seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series, but it is nowhere near being in the same conversation as Hamlin’s team — Joe Gibbs Racing — as being one of the few power house teams in NASCAR.
Being in a car that doesn’t handle as well, coupled with being mired back in the ferocious pack where you have to scrap basically all race long with someone else who is dying to finish 25th to prove that they belong, could lead to much higher heart rates throughout an entire race.
However, things went from potentially a friendly joke, to quite testy really quickly as LaJoie offered to switch cars with Hamlin.
We could but not sure you’re gonna get the answers you’re hoping for.
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) June 8, 2020
Hamlin’s answer poked LaJoie to keep pressing, which is when things really became personal.
Real pressure begins when you have all that and still don’t win.. it ain’t all about having a fast car buddy. https://t.co/vTkC3rw7yg
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) June 8, 2020
Following trading shots with LaJoie, LaJoie’s Sunday Money Podcast co-host Daryl Motte hopped in to clarify that Hamlin believes he would be able to get better finishes in Go Fas Racing equipment than LaJoie. Hamlin didn’t choose to speculate, but just explained that he isn’t a fan of complaining about what he doesn’t have.
Never driven it so can’t speculate. I’ve driven shit cars before. I just kept working. I didn’t complain about what I didn’t have. Think of it like this. Would he outrun me in mine? What’s that answer?
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) June 8, 2020
While Hamlin makes a fair point, it’s also a little bit of a shortsighted point as he was thrust into the NASCAR ladder when he was spotted by JD Gibbs and has driven for Joe Gibbs Racing throughout his entire NASCAR Cup Series career. Meanwhile, drivers such as LaJoie have had to scratch and claw their way from start and park organizations to mid-tier teams.
This feud may be something interesting to keep an eye on going forward as the two had another Twitter spat during the iRacing Pro Invitational Series event that took place at virtual Talladega Superspeedway.
If Go Fas Racing can get LaJoie a car capable of running anywhere near Hamlin during a race this season, we could be getting ready to see a fireworks show.
