Denny Hamlin was hoping Logano and Truex would ‘crash harder’

Hamlin shares his views on bump and run by Joey Logano at Martinsville Speedway

Hamlin was in 3rd place as they took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway. At the front, Joey Logano put a target on the back bumper of Truex heading into the final corner.

Truex skated up the track, stepped on the gas and the two leaders banged doors all the way to the finish line. Fender pieces went flying as a place in the championship round was up for grabs.

Meanwhile, Hamlin was coming to steal a win. He looked inside of Logano but came up less than a car length short of the win at his home race track.

Hamlin comments his run at Martinsville Speedway

“Just crash harder, that was all I was hoping,” Hamlin referred to his hopes after he came off turn four at Martinsville Speedway.

“I was trying to get as close as I could. It just took me so long to get around the #18. Then, the #2.”

Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 28: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)

“Our car just would not take off on the short run. And was so exceptionally good on the long run. That 40 lap run at the end just was a killer for us.”

“I don’t think I would do anything different. I rode behind the #18, was trying to be respectful of him. Obviously, in his situation, you don’t want to move a teammate out of the way. Especially, if he needs that one point when it comes down to the end.”

“I knew we were fast enough to drive up there and pass those guys. It just took me 6-7 laps or more to get around the #18. 3-4 more to get around the #2.”

“Then, I just ran as hard as I could to get as close to the front two as possible. I knew something would happen. I just wanted to be as close as I could and hopefully capitalize, I was just a tenth away.”

Denny Hamlin wrecks Chase Elliott
Denny Hamlin wrecks Chase Elliott at Martinsville Speedway

The bump and run

Hamlin has been a player in the bump and run. In fact, he’s been on the giving end of the move at this same race track.

In 2017, Hamlin out the bumper to Chase Elliott in the closing laps of the same race. However, Elliott was fighting a loose condition under braking. As he got to the bumper, a light touch was all it took to send Elliott toward the fence.

Related: Denny Hamlin vs Chase Elliott at ISM Raceway (Video)

What did you think of the move at the end by Joey Logano?

“I think it just depends on who your favorite driver is. The people that don’t like Joey and the people that do. It’s all about who you are and whether they like you or not.”

“The #22 saw he was in a vulnerable position. They were side by side for two laps. The #22 was on the outside. That’s a position where you can’t do anything to the leader.”

By that, Hamlin means that you can’t get into the leader when he’s giving you an entire groove. Logano moved up the track and left the primary groove wide open for Truex. But, it wasn’t working out for Joey as Truex nosed ahead at the line.

“It looked like to me that he conceded the spot on the white flag lap. Once I saw that he conceded the spot and followed in behind him. I knew that we were in for an exciting turns three and four.”

“I knew that it was coming. Everyone probably saw that it was coming. It would have been a cool battle if they just stayed side by side. But, the #22 thought that he wasn’t going to win that way.”

More

Denny Hamlin declares short tracks as the fix for NASCAR

NASCAR reacts to the finish between Logano and Truex at Martinsville Speedway

Martin Truex Jr called the move by Joey Logano a ‘cheap shot’; Roger Penske disagrees

NASCAR community reacts to the move by Joey Logano

Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr comment after the race at Martinsville Speedway

Martinsville Speedway: Race Results (October 28, 2018)

Truex is tired of getting run over by his fellow NASCAR competitors

Jimmie Johnson had to get special permission from NASCAR to pull the prank on Furniture Row Racing

Chase Elliott vs Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway (Video)

Denny Hamlin vs Chase Elliott at ISM Raceway (Video)

Links

Denny Hamlin | Joey Logano | Martin Truex Jr | Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR

Categories

Tags