Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott have a bittersweet relationship on the track after last year’s Charlotte incident that led to the suspension of Chase Elliott. However, both of the drivers found themselves side by side once again at Texas fighting for a lead. No one can deny the fact that sometimes unintentional contact may occur during the close passes in NASCAR. Yet again battling for the lead Denny Hamlin made contact with Chase Elliott but this time the wreck was in favor of Chase Elliott.
Denny Hamlin on his wreck when trying to pass Chase Elliott as they battled for the lead and the restart prior when he lost the lead to Elliott late in the Texas race. pic.twitter.com/Lf3cBu7uio
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 15, 2024
Talking with Bob Pocrass Denny said, “You know when you gotta push it the most on a green-white checker, I knew that the likely scenario was I wasn’t gonna make it out of the corner with as much speed as I was carrying, but it’s trying to go for the win, so I just got loose and spun out.”
Denny Hamlin vs Chase Elliott at Charlotte 2023
Lap 185 proved fateful for Hamlin and Elliott. As they hurtled around Turn 4, Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota slid high, forcing Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet toward the outside SAFER barrier. The tension escalated as Elliott retaliated, making contact with Hamlin’s right-rear quarter panel. The result? Hamlin’s car slammed nose-first into the unforgiving wall, ending his race prematurely.
Exiting the infield care center, Hamlin minced no words. He accused Elliott of intentionally “right-rear hooking” him down the straightaway—a move eerily reminiscent of a previous incident involving Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson. Hamlin called for disciplinary action, asserting that such maneuvers were “absolutely unacceptable.” He believed that Elliott should face consequences similar to those meted out to Wallace.
Elliott, on the other hand, denied any deliberate wrongdoing. He attributed the contact to the damage sustained by his No. 9 Chevrolet after hitting the wall. “Once you tear the right sides off these things,” Elliott explained, “it’s kind of over.” His words hinted at frustration but stopped short of admitting retaliation.
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