Denny Hamlin recently weighed in on Brad Keselowski‘s aggressive move against Christopher Bell during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the last event in the Round of 16. The dramatic incident, involving Keselowski’s attempt to bump Bell in the closing laps, has drawn attention throughout the NASCAR community, highlighting the tension as drivers fight for advancement.
High Drama in the Final Laps at Bristol
The showdown at Bristol Motor Speedway marked a critical moment in the NASCAR Playoffs. Christopher Bell, behind the wheel of the #20 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing, had started in the top ten and maintained a strong position, finishing with a best lap of 15.21 seconds and reaching 126.12 mph. Bell finished just fractions of a second behind pole sitter AJ Allmendinger and ultimately secured ninth in the qualifying order.
Brad Keselowski, piloting the #6 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing, began his charge from the 18th spot on the grid. As the 500-lap race wound down, the competition became fierce. With only four laps remaining, Bell fought to take the lead, but Keselowski made a daring old-school move by bumping into Bell before the checkered flag. Rather than losing control, Bell stayed steady, taking the victory and capturing his fourth win of the season.
Recounting the moment on the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin shared his candid reaction to the incident:
“I thought as hard as Brad hit him, I mean, I thought he wrecked him. I could not believe he had the balls to hit him that hard. Bell missed turns one and two; that’s what allowed him to even get close. That just tells you the advantage that leaders got. When second place hits you that hard and it doesn’t even move your car hardly, yikes.”
— Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Hamlin further explained that Keselowski’s action would not have been regarded as a clean maneuver had Bell spun out. Instead, Bell crossed the finish line 0.343 seconds ahead of Keselowski, clinching his place in the next playoff round and avoiding a costly incident in the process.
Denny Hamlin Reflects on Penalty at Bristol Night Race
Away from the spotlight on the Brad Keselowski aggressive move, Denny Hamlin found himself facing his own adversity at Bristol. Hamlin began the race from sixth place and stayed close to the leaders, late in the race making contact with AJ Allmendinger that resulted in his right front wheel becoming loose. The incident, occurring on lap 384, prompted NASCAR officials to issue a two-lap penalty against Hamlin.
The penalty had further consequences, as the sanctioning body suspended two crew members for upcoming events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Addressing the situation on his podcast, Hamlin stressed the importance of focusing on factors within his control and distanced himself from personnel decisions:
“I have no idea who’s sitting on the bench or who’s ready, and it’s not even my concern…cuz that’s the crew chief. He manages the people. Um, there’s nothing I can do about it. You know what I mean? My concern needs to be on the things that I can control.” [35:53 onwards]
— Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
What This Means for the Playoff Picture
The night’s events had major implications for both teams and drivers in the playoff race. Brad Keselowski’s forceful attempt at overtaking Bell added fuel to conversations about racing etiquette and what constitutes fair competition under pressure. Meanwhile, Christopher Bell’s resilient response and smooth drive under duress put him firmly into the next playoff phase, keeping the title hopes for the #20 team alive.
Denny Hamlin, although hindered by penalty and crew setbacks, remains focused on future races. Looking forward to the Mobil 1 301 scheduled for September 21, 2025, Hamlin is aiming to rebound and continue pushing for championship contention. As the playoff rounds continue, attention will remain on drivers like Hamlin, Keselowski, and Bell, as well as their respective teams, including Joe Gibbs Racing and RFK Racing, all vying for spots at the top of the leaderboard.
The developments at Bristol have not only intensified the playoff field but also heightened anticipation for upcoming challenges, as teams prepare to compete at New Hampshire and Kansas. The spotlight is set to stay on racing tactics, team dynamics, and the relentless pursuit of victory in the high-stakes world of NASCAR.
Brad hit CBell HARD, but JGR still secured the first-round sweep. 🧹 pic.twitter.com/W3h9rW5bYq
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) September 16, 2025
