#24 crew chief calls for retaliation at Texas Motor Speedway
On Sunday, Denny Hamlin dumped Chase Elliott at Martinsville Speedway. The two spoke, on track, then to the press.
“Well, he said I wrecked him and obviously Ray Charles saw that,” Denny Hamlin says he took blame during the conversation with Elliott.
The crew chief is in on the conversation as well:
Alan Gustafson
“I’m cool with it,” stated Alan Gustafson after Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott and Alan Gustafson
© 2016, Nigel Kinrade
NKP
“When we have his back tires jacked up in probably (Turn) 3 at Texas – that will be a bigger corner – then he just needs to be good with that, too.”
With those comments, Alan Gustafson has threatened payback at Texas Motor Speedway. Though, Alan isn’t the driver.
Chase Elliott says that Denny, “Isn’t even worth his time.” So, while the crew chief expects a retaliation, the driver says he’s moved on.
“I don’t know if I expected to be just wrecked, but you never know,” Gustafson said. “It’s pretty intense, and it’s Martinsville, and it’s a transfer to Homestead. Got a lot on the line, but yeah, so anything can happen.”
Chase Elliott has yet to win a NASCAR Cup Series event. He’s come close, over and over again. Sunday was one of his best chances.
“I think he’s improved,” Gustafson said. “He’s done an incredible job and it’s unfortunate that race wins have eluded us because I think that’s the only thing that we haven’t been able to do this year. We’ve done everything else.”
Alan Gustafson has spent 13 years in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Previously, he worked with Kyle Busch, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. 20 wins were collected with those three drivers.
He currently heads the #24 team at Hendrick Motorsports.
Denny Hamlin is currently 6th in NASCAr playoff standings. Chase Elliott is 8th, last. Neither of these drivers can spend any time playing the retaliation game.
Links
Chase Elliott | Denny Hamlin | Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR
