Denny Hamlin placed responsibility on Shane van Gisbergen for a late-race crash during the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Watkins Glen International, arguing that Connor Zilisch merely defended his position as van Gisbergen forced him wide at a critical moment. The incident between the two front-runners has fueled debate throughout the racing community and highlighted the tensions on the track as the series intensifies.
Battle Between Top Contenders at Watkins Glen
The Watkins Glen International Xfinity race saw teammates Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen emerge with dominant cars, raising anticipation that the pair would confront each other as the laps dwindled. With 18 laps to go, van Gisbergen’s attempt to maintain his lead unraveled when Zilisch made contact with his car entering Turn 6. As a result, van Gisbergen’s No. 9 Chevrolet crashed harshly into the wall, abruptly ending his pursuit of victory.
Denny Hamlin Weighs In on the Collision
During his appearance on the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin provided his perspective on why the accident unfolded. He asserted that van Gisbergen was to blame for his own misfortune because he failed to share racing space with Zilisch after aggressively pushing him outside through Turn 5. Hamlin clarified his stance by referencing information relayed by Zilisch’s spotter regarding the racing lines used during the incident.
“The car that wrecked, it was their fault. He didn’t give Connor any room to get back on the racetrack,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver and podcast host
According to Hamlin, when a competitor runs someone wide, that driver must allow space for the opponent to safely rejoin the track. He indicated that expecting Zilisch to slow or back off completely would not be realistic at this high level of competition. Hamlin noted that Zilisch’s firm stance led to inevitable contact, while van Gisbergen’s decision put him at risk.
“I would liked to have seen it play out, but the 9 [van Gisbergen] was a sitting duck. He was not going to win the race. The 88 [Zilisch] at the time was so much faster than him.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver and podcast host
Connor Zilisch’s Perspective on the Clash
Connor Zilisch, offering his side of the story over the radio during the race, echoed Hamlin’s reasoning. He believed van Gisbergen left him with no alternative because there was no adequate space to safely merge back onto the racing surface after being pushed out.
“I don’t know what I could have done differently,”
—Connor Zilisch, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver
“He didn’t leave me any room to rejoin. He spun off my nose… I think he thought I was clear.”
—Connor Zilisch, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver
Despite the high-stakes clash, Zilisch recovered to clinch his sixth checkered flag of the season, pushing him ahead of his teammate Justin Allgaier by seven points in the series standings. The clash marked a significant shift in the championship battle between these drivers, affecting both momentum and morale.
Van Gisbergen Responds with Cup Series Triumph
Although disappointed by the Xfinity outcome, van Gisbergen responded quickly. Just 24 hours later, he dominated in another event, securing his fourth Cup Series victory of the season. This win slightly alleviated the frustration from Watkins Glen but kept questions about racing etiquette and teammate dynamics in sharp focus within the NASCAR community.
The Watkins Glen drama underscores ongoing tensions as drivers contend for seasonal supremacy, highlighting how small decisions in high-pressure situations can have lasting impacts. With Denny Hamlin taking a clear stance by stating
“Denny Hamlin blames van Gisbergen crash”
and Zilisch defending his actions, the incident is likely to influence strategies and relationships as the series progresses.
