Shortly after the day’s first caution call, Denny Hamlin was the focus of a second caution as he got into the back of Christopher Bell, leading to a catastrophic crash at Talladega. Known for its high-speed thrills and unexpected incidents, the NASCAR Talladega race resumed after a caution to witness another unplanned halt caused by Hamlin’s excessive push on the backstretch.
As if to confirm the popular saying that cautions breed cautions, the first stage of the race saw toyota/”>Toyota setting an incredibly fast pace, pushing everyone’s boundaries. On the restart backstretch, Hamlin overstepped the limits and pushed too hard. The result would soon be fatal with Bell and Chris Buescher crashing into the inside wall.
Immediately following the crash, a remorseful Hamlin was on the radio, trying to comprehend what had just happened. He expressed his confusion and concern, stating, “What in the hell? We weren’t even up to speed yet. Man…apologies if that’s on me. I don’t know why that would have wrecked him. When he shot down to the bottom, I wasn’t even sure I was actually on him.”
The spectacular crash drew immediate attention, with many comparing it to a massive hit into the inside wall, similar to Connor Zilisch‘s encounter during yesterday’s Xfinity Series race. As expected, Talladega always witnessed the combination of speed and hits, leading to several exciting and oftentimes heart-stopping moments.
Still recovering from the incident, Hamlin expressed his determination to avoid any further mishaps. Equipped with a fast Toyota, he hoped to lead the race till the end without any further incidents. However, not all reactions were as calm as Hamlin’s. The crew chief of the 17 team, Scott Graves, vented his frustration on Hamlin, calling him out for his actions.
Narrating their concerns, Graves expressed, “This team works so hard every week, had our driver in position for the end of stage 1, and the guys that would consider themselves some of the best drivers in the world can’t even get through a restart. I see why you have an insurance sponsor [Denny Hamlin], can I file a claim?”
In conclusion, despite the unfortunate incident, Hamlin continued to race. Both Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher expressed their displeasure at the unfortunate turn of events. Bell more or less accepted it. The same held true for Buescher as well. Around NASCAR, everyone braces for the unexpected, and as the race progresses towards Texas next week, all eyes will be on Denny Hamlin’s strategies to avoid similar incidents.
