“Yeah, that was uh, very much on purpose.”
Today, the NASCAR Cup Series is racing in Richmond, Virginia. The race on the 0.75-mile short track of Richmond Raceway has fireworks blasting off early in the event
Watch the Denny Hamlin vs JJ Yeley video below.
Denny Hamlin isn’t typically toward the rear of the field. However, a speeding penalty on the pit lane relegated him to the tail of the field.
On a restart, Hamlin was running side by side with JJ Yeley. Just ahead, Chandler Smith ran wide off turn four. Both Yeley and Hamlin turned under Smith.
On lap 45 of 400, they ran three wide off turn four, Yeley crowded Hamlin, he got into his door and forced the No. 11 driver to lift.
As they went into turn 1, Hamlin lined up the rear bumper of Yeley. He sent Yeley into the corner.
The rearend stepped out and Yeley backed it hard into the outside wall. He became the first test of the Next Gen rear clip updates. Yeley’s decklid was crushed in the impact.
Clint Bowyer notes the contact was on purpose
“Couldn’t have seen it any better. It was off the front bumper of the guy we were riding with and listening to,” Clint Bowyer stated from the FOX booth.
Bowyer added, “Yeah, that was uh, very much on purpose. I don’t know why? But, very much so on purpose.”
Hamlin was recently fined for retaliation on Ross Chastain. He has since appealed that penalty and that appeal is set to heard later this week.
The race at Richmond is currently underway.
Denny Hamlin admits retaliation on Ross Chastain at Phoenix (Video)
Denny Hamlin turns JJ Yeley
Richmond Raceway
Video
NASCAR issues $550,000 in fines after Phoenix Raceway
Joe Gibbs Racing asked Denny Hamlin not to appeal NASCAR penalty
