Denny Hamlin tied Chris Rock and Will Smith into a discussion about contact in NASCAR
Last weekend, NASCAR took the green flag for the first race with the new Next Gen car. And the gloves came off at the end of the race.
With two corners to go at Circuit of the Americas, Ross Chastain drove into the rear bumper of AJ Allmendinger. As Allmendinger was sent off the track, he collected race leader Alex Bowman.
Chastain drove by both to grab the win with the move. It marked the first career win for the recently formed Trackhouse Racing as well as the first win of Chastain’s NASCAR Cup Series career.
The move confirmed we’re in an era where wins are everything and contact to get that win is accepted. Whatever it takes to grab a win and claim a spot in the playoffs, anything goes.
After the win, Chastain stated, “I didn’t draw it that way in my head. But yeah, I did what I did. I stand by it.”
AJ Allmendinger stated, “At the end of the day, we all gotta look at ourselves in the mirror. If you’re ok with it, you’re ok with it. Each person’s different.”
As for the way he grabbed the win, it’s sparked some conversation…
Related: NASCAR drivers crash for the win at COTA (Video)
Denny Hamlin comments
“In 2017 it wasn’t ok. In todays world. ‘High stakes’ ‘do whatever it takes’ ‘playoffs on the line’ blah blah, it’s all fair game.”
“The game has changed and it’s just expected now. Everyone runs over everyone. Doesn’t matter if it’s for 1st or 10th. Congrats to Justin Marks & Ross.”
As this twitter discussion went on, Will Smith smacked Chris Rock at the Oscars. Hamlin tied the viral events to the discussion.
“If there were more Will Smiths of the world and less Chris Rocks (people who say or do stuff without getting smacked in the face) we wouldn’t have this problem.”
Hamlin indicated that if there were more NASCAR fights, they probably wouldn’t crash each other for the win.
He clarified, “I like Chris. I was just saying in general. Guy was just reading what was wrote.”
As for the contact, Hamlin added that fans view each incident differently, depending on the favorites involved.
Hamlin concluded, “We must acknowledge that whether it’s ok or not in the public eye is directly correlated to who it happens to.”
Related: NASCAR Drivers Council relaunched; NASCAR comments
Links
Denny Hamlin | Ross Chastain | Alex Bowman | AJ Allmendinger | Circuit of the Americas | NASCAR
