Todd Gilliland addressed his experience in the widely discussed Denny Hamlin Atlanta race wreck at the Quaker State 400, sharing that he has replayed footage of the crash around a hundred times, trying to fully understand what happened. The collision began when Denny Hamlin’s car was forced into an unstable position by Kyle Larson, whose aggressive push on the vehicle ahead set off a chain reaction that resulted in Hamlin’s car getting sideways and slowing the field. The event unfolded at Atlanta Motor Speedway, drawing attention from fans and drivers alike.
The initial contact between Gilliland and Hamlin started a sequence that impacted 23 cars in total, sidelining well-known drivers such as Joey Logano, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Austin Cindric. The incident ruined Team Penske‘s hopes as none of their drivers managed to cross the finish line. Hamlin’s No. 11 Chevrolet spun out dramatically, forcing race officials to issue a red flag and leaving the Cup Series race in significant disarray.
After the incident, Gilliland finished 27th, a disappointing result that placed him 28th in the overall points standings. At the same time, the effects of the wreck impacted Hamlin’s standing in the championship, pushing him further down the order.
Reflecting in a later media session, Gilliland gave a detailed account:
“Yeah. I’ve watched the replays of that probably 100 times. I really don’t know. I feel like the 11 had the 42 jacked up and the 42 was pushing the guy in front of him. There was literally eight of us in the train. Obviously, looking back now knowing they wrecked, I should have had a bigger gap. That’s on me to look out for those guys, but they were all tight in front of them.”
—Todd Gilliland, NASCAR Driver
“I think he got the 42 sideways and that kind of slowed them down a little bit and then I got to their bumper, slowed down, and then I was getting pushed as well. I don’t know. To me, I hate that I was part of it. I definitely contributed to it, but on the flip side of it, it definitely seemed like maybe more of a racing deal,”
he added. —Todd Gilliland, NASCAR Driver
Todd Gilliland’s Racing Journey to the Cup Series
Todd Gilliland, a third-generation racer and the son of former NASCAR driver and team owner David Gilliland, has made a name for himself in the world of motorsports at just 24 years old. Growing up in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, Gilliland quickly found success, becoming the youngest winner in ARCA Menards Series history. His achievements in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, where he won consecutive championships in 2016 and 2017, elevated his profile nationwide.
He advanced through the ranks, moving to Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series before joining the Cup Series to drive for Front Row Motorsports. His presence on the track at significant events like the Denny Hamlin Atlanta race wreck has increased his visibility, even as challenging moments like this recent collision are part of his ongoing development as a top-tier driver.
Hamlin Considers the Wreck a Turning Point for the Atlanta Race
Denny Hamlin, who was a central figure in the crash, shared his perspective on the widespread chaos that shaped the 2025 Atlanta NASCAR Cup Series race. Speaking on his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin acknowledged the incident as a pivotal moment, describing it as the reason the race became more dynamic. He explained that, contrary to expectations, the Denny Hamlin Atlanta race wreck helped by creating gaps between the remaining cars on track and breaking up the pack formations.
“That wreck was the best thing to happen to that race. There’s no question about it whatsoever because what it did is it created space between the cars. We were not log-jammed two-by-two-by-two-by-two-by-two. There was space. There was only 15 cars maybe that were not damaged. So if you look, all the passing that was done at the end of that race… It was created through space of the cars.”
(7:40 onwards) —Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
When the dust settled, only about 15 undamaged cars remained in contention, breaking up the tight, two-by-two racing formations. This new field order allowed for increased passing opportunities and more unpredictable racing in the closing laps of the race, a noticeable shift from how the event began.
Impact of the Atlanta Crash on Teams and the 2025 Season
The wreck at Atlanta Motor Speedway has left a mark on several teams, most notably Team Penske, which saw all of its drivers eliminated before the finish. Key competitors like Joey Logano, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin experienced setbacks that could affect their momentum in the remainder of the season. The event also demonstrated the unpredictability of superspeedway racing, where even a moment’s lapse or aggressive tactics from one driver can trigger consequences for many.
As the season progresses, drivers and teams will look to learn from the Denny Hamlin Atlanta race wreck, aiming to balance aggressive moves with caution to avoid similar outcomes. The incident serves as a harsh reminder of the risks at high-speed events, but for many, including Todd Gilliland and Denny Hamlin, it also provides valuable lessons that could shape strategies in future races.