Denny Hamlin has acknowledged partial responsibility for the Justin Allgaier Daytona 500 crash that triggered one of the race’s biggest incidents, admitting his share a day after Allgaier accepted full blame. The collision, which unfolded late in the race’s second stage at the Daytona International Speedway, resulted in significant fallout and discussion among fans and competitors.
Details of the Crash Between Allgaier and Hamlin
On Lap 124 during the 68th running of the Daytona 500, Justin Allgaier attempted to block Denny Hamlin from overtaking him for the lead. The move happened as the second stage was nearing its end, heightening tensions and the competition for valuable stage points. Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, left a slim opening along the outside wall, prompting Hamlin from Joe Gibbs Racing to seize the opportunity.
Both drivers shifted right, colliding with the wall and sparking a massive multi-car crash that collected 20 cars from the field. This dramatic incident, often referred to as ‘The Big One,’ changed the trajectory of the race and became a focal point of post-race conversations.
Hamlin Reflects on His Actions and Shares Accountability
The day following the crash, Denny Hamlin used his Actions Detrimental podcast to address the episode and his role in the wreck. Hamlin openly discussed his share of the blame, contrasting with Allgaier’s full acceptance of fault right after the race.
“Allgaier took 100 percent of the blame; I’ll take 20 of it,”
said Hamlin, driver and NASCAR contender. He elaborated, explaining,
“I’ll take 20 of it because it was an aggressive move, but it’s coming at the end of the stage. He’s gotta know I’m gonna be aggressive, like, I’m gonna take every run I’m gonna get at the end of a stage because stage points do matter to me. I established very early I wanted to be in the top. It’s why once I cleared the bottom lane, I went right to the top. That’s where I wanted to be to end the stage. I was coming with such a massive run… I made up my mind probably 100 yards or so before I actually went high, I said, ‘I’m going to the outside no matter what,’ because I knew where he had run on the top before that, so I’d knew there’d be enough space,”
Hamlin said.
The quick sequence of events left little time for either driver to react.
“It was enough space, obviously, if he didn’t move up, I had outside position, but it probably happened so quickly that it caught him off guard. So, for me, I think my 20 percent is that he probably didn’t have a whole lot of time to react or see that was coming, therefore was late to react to it,”
Hamlin continued.
Looking Back and Considering Alternatives
Hamlin reflected on the incident with a measure of regret and considered how he might have handled things differently if he had another chance.
“Had I had it to do all over again, I would have stayed on (Allgaier),”
Hamlin admitted. He described the intense speed difference at the time of the incident:
“We were running 10 mph faster than him at the time because of the push I got. If I go into the tri-oval and check-up for him, does (Ryan Blaney) just plow into the back of me? Probably not because he’s got a good spotter, he’s good driver, so they can know and plan for that kind of stuff, but it would have caused a huge domino effect had I checked up and not taken it,”
Hamlin said.
He also theorized other options he could have taken during those crucial moments:
“Or I could have just gone to the bottom and probably cleared him with the speed differential that I had. … Again, doing it all over again, had I known what the result was going to be, I would have just stayed in line there for a few more laps,”
Hamlin reflected on his podcast.
Impact on the Race and Broader NASCAR Implications
The crash involving Justin Allgaier and Denny Hamlin not only removed a large number of contenders from Daytona 500 competition but also prompted conversations about racing strategies, aggressive moves near the end of stage segments, and the importance of in-the-moment decision-making. The incident became a reminder of the high stakes and split-second choices defining the NASCAR Cup Series‘ marquee events.
Allgaier and Hamlin’s willingness to publicly claim and share responsibility signals professional accountability and dedication to sportsmanship, even amidst frustration and disappointment. Their post-race reflections will likely influence both their personal approaches and broader team strategies as the NASCAR season continues to unfold.
