Denny Hamlin believes NASCAR made a wise decision in addressing the late-race collisions. There’s no denying that NASCAR is inherently a contact sport, and the ruling against Austin Dillon isn’t likely to change the way drivers approach racing. However, Hamlin argues that for too long, reckless behavior among drivers has gone unpunished. This ruling could pave the way for NASCAR to respond more decisively in the future.
Interestingly, Hamlin has experienced his fair share of being taken out by competitors. He recounted a specific instance from the 2020 season when he could have missed out on the Championship 4 race due to Kevin Harvick’s attempt to secure his own position by wrecking Kyle Busch at Martinsville.
Hamlin is advocating for NASCAR to establish a clear standard and adhere to it.
Changing rules is a common occurrence in stock car racing, with new regulations introduced each year to help manage the dynamics on the track. Historically, NASCAR has not stripped a driver of a playoff position due to unfair tactics in winning a race. However, Dillon’s controversial move against Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, while entertaining for viewers, cast a negative light on the integrity of the sport.
Hamlin believes that even with the recent decisions made, drivers will still find ways to push the boundaries of the rules, which means NASCAR will need to closely monitor this new standard. “I think there will be chances when we head to Martinsville, and at other lower series events, as the last few years have been a complete mess in terms of racing. Events like this in our sport always present opportunities for improvement, and I hope both sides can evolve positively.”
He recounted a moment when he nearly lost his chance at the championship due to Kevin Harvick’s reckless maneuver against Kyle Busch. “He might not appreciate this, but when Kevin spun out Kyle, it didn’t help him advance, but he was attempting to take Kyle out to progress to the next round, which could have eliminated me. Is that fair? Absolutely not; he shouldn’t be allowed to take someone out to advance.” Hamlin expressed this on the Actions Detrimental podcast.
Now, he may need to reconsider his stance, as his own driver, Bubba Wallace, might resort to similar strategies. With only two races remaining in the regular season, Wallace will need to go all out against his competitors to secure a playoff spot. It will be fascinating to see how Hamlin reacts in that situation.
Bubba Wallace finds himself in a challenging position just outside the playoff bubble.
Following two impressive top-five finishes, Wallace was poised for another significant performance at Michigan International Speedway. Starting the race ranked 15th in the points standings, he seemed set to secure valuable points until a late-race crash derailed his plans. He ultimately finished in 26th place, suffering considerable damage to his vehicle. Now, he stands just a point below the cutline, relying on points to secure his playoff spot.
Yet, Wallace knows that only a victory will guarantee his advancement. That’s precisely what he’s aiming for in the upcoming races. “With two races left, we’re still in the hunt, so let’s forget about Michigan and focus on Daytona. Our team did a great job showing up with speed and improving from practice. We had solid track position all day, but it just didn’t pan out,” he reflected after the race.
Historically, Daytona has been a strong track for Wallace, but with three drivers in a similar situation, his journey to the playoffs is likely to be filled with tension.
