Denny Hamlin has recently criticized NASCAR for allegedly not following its own rulebook during the YellaWood 500 at Talladega. His frustration centers around the race’s winner, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., whose #47 Chevy was severely damaged in the 28-car pileup that occurred with just five laps to go. Hamlin pointed out that Stenhouse Jr.’s car had missing door foam, yet NASCAR allowed him to continue without enforcing the rule that requires immediate foam replacement under such conditions. This oversight, Hamlin believes, gave Stenhouse Jr. an unfair advantage.
In a fiery discussion on the Dirty Mo Media podcast, Hamlin voiced his concerns, stating that NASCAR failed to follow its own regulations. He referenced a specific rule in the Cup Series rulebook, which mandates that any damaged door foam must be replaced immediately. However, in Stenhouse Jr.’s case, NASCAR did not enforce this rule, allowing him to go on and win the race. Hamlin argued that even if common sense suggests a driver can continue, the rules should be upheld: “If there was no rule, common sense says, ‘He’s fine, just let him go.’ But the issue is, they didn’t follow the rules.”
Hamlin didn’t stop there, also pointing out that other drivers, including Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher, had similar violations post-race. Both RFK Racing drivers were allegedly missing roof rails after the race, but as of now, NASCAR has not taken any disciplinary action. Hamlin emphasized the inconsistency in rule enforcement by comparing their situation to that of another driver, Josh Berry, who was disqualified for a missing windshield bolt. Hamlin’s frustrations underscore a bigger concern about NASCAR’s adherence to its own regulations.
Despite these issues, Hamlin had a fortunate run at Talladega. After starting in eighth place, Hamlin dropped to 39th early in the race and later got caught in a wreck on the final lap of Stage 2. While his car sustained some damage, Hamlin managed to recover thanks to the massive 28-car crash that shook up the race. The crash allowed him to jump 20 positions and secure a top-10 finish.
This turn of events proved crucial for Hamlin’s playoff hopes. Without the crash, he would have been significantly below the playoff cutline. Instead, his P10 finish gave him a 30-point buffer heading into the Charlotte race, keeping his championship dreams alive.
