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You waited for Denny Hamlin to strike after losing Sunday's race at Martinsville. Would he ram Jimmie Johnson's car? Give him the one-finger salute? Or call Johnson out like a pro wrestler?

Instead, Hamlin did something less dramatic but more powerful.

He calmly said retribution is coming.

Some will say Hamlin's subtle reaction proves all that's wrong with NASCAR. No emotion. No personality. No pizzaz.

This was the perfect time to throw a fit, they would say. Johnson dived under Hamlin with 16 laps to go racing for the lead. They hit. Johnson slid past Hamlin on the way to his fifth win in the last six Martinsville races.

Hamlin's reaction, though, isn't wrong. It's today's NASCAR.

While there are the occasional tussles — Kevin Harvick vs. Carl Edwards in October at Charlotte — and car-banging incidents — Kyle Busch vs. Edwards in August at Bristol — this is not 1979. You're not going to see an all-out fight anymore.

Blame NASCAR. Blame TV. Blame sponsors. Blame the media. Blame yourself. With more people watching than in the sport's early days, drivers are more careful.

That doesn't mean personality is gone.

You just have to look for it.

Yes, Hamlin was upset losing at a track he covets in his home state. Few would have been too critical had he created a scene. Thing is, Hamlin got his point across and gave fans something more: anticipation.

"If the roles were reversed, I'd do the same thing," Hamlin said. "Believe me, I will if it ever comes back around."

The question now is when Hamlin gets his revenge? Richmond? Bristol? Martinsville? Or somewhere else?

That isn't the only bit of conflict this season. Tony Stewart ripped Goodyear at Daytona after he had two cars destroyed in a wreck caused by a tire problem. Busch stormed off after losses in the Nationwide race at Bristol and the rain-delayed truck race Monday at Martinsville.

Hamlin said at Bristol, when he finished second to Busch, he would have bumped his teammate out of the way to win because that's what short-track racing is about. That's why Hamlin didn't lose self-control Sunday. The tight racing and contact with Johnson was just short-track racing.

Even Johnson, described as vanilla by some, showed his personality with his bold move on Hamlin late in Sunday's race. Johnson often controls his emotions in public, but his calculating driving style is one to watch. Few drivers are as good late in a race as Johnson.

You want more? Listen to drivers talk on the radio during races. There's enough four-letter words, threats and sarcastic comments to entertain.

Even all that isn't good enough, some will say, and they're right. As TV ratings decline again this year, NASCAR fans are saying they want more action on and off the track.

Anything off the track can't be contrived, though, or it will turn fans away. Since stating it wanted to give drivers more freedom, NASCAR has allowed drivers to express themselves without penalty at times.

The main problem is there's too much money in the sport. Drivers are not racing for meal money as those in previous generations did but mortgage money — for the second or third house. Drivers are comfortable. They hate losing but losing still pays awfully well.

That was the difference in the old days. That era is gone and not coming back. That doesn't mean, though, this era should be dull.

Hamlin is making this season interesting.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com