Chase Elliott crashed Denny Hamlin at Charlotte Motor Speedway after being put in the wall himself
On Monday the NASCAR Cup Series raced in Concord, North Carolina. The famed Coca-Cola 600 brought drama to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Will we see penalties?
On a mid-race restart, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott fought for space. Hamlin ran Elliott up the track.
Moments later, on lap 186 of 400, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott raced side by once more. As they exited turn four, Hamlin got tight and ran wide off turn four.
Elliott was stuffed into the outside wall as a result. He straightened it out then abruptly turned right, hooking Hamlin in the right rear.
Both cars slammed the wall in the tri-oval. Each mangled machine was out of the race.
After exiting the care center, Hamlin called for Chase Elliott to be suspended by NASCAR. And, that would be consistent with similar incidents in recent years.
Charlotte Results: May 29, 2023 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Denny Hamlin calls for Chase Elliott to be suspended
“It’s a tantrum and he shouldn’t be racing next week,” Hamlin told Fox Sports.
“Right rear hooks are absolutely unexceptionable.”
Hamlin added, “It’s the same thing Bubba Wallace did with Kyle Larson. The exact same. He shouldn’t be racing.”
Here’s the full context of what Hamlin said
Bubba Wallace attacks Kyle Larson: Vegas NASCAR Crash (Video)
Chase Elliott claims it wasn’t retaliation
“Once you tear the right sides off these things, it’s kinda over. I hate it,” Elliott said.
“Like I said, once you hit the wall in these things, you can’t drive them anymore. Just an unfortunate circumstance.”
However, Hamlin also shared screenshots of SMT data. The data shows the steering input for Elliott at the time of the crash. And that data says Elliott turned hard left into Hamlin.
Denny Hamlin shares Chase Elliott’s SMT Data
Will NASCAR suspend Chase Elliott?
Recent history says he’ll be penalized. Will he be suspended? Maybe.
Earlier this year, Denny Hamlin purposefully wrecked Ross Chastain at Phoenix Raceway. After admitting it on his podcast, NASCAR issued a fine of $50,000 and docked him 25 driver points.
Denny Hamlin penalized after admitting to crashing Ross Chastain
Last year, Bubba Wallace was put in the wall by Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wallace reacted by turning left and hooking Larson’s right rear. It was a near identical incident to the Elliott and Hamlin situation.
However, Wallace also walked down the track and pushed Larson, multiple times. So, in that case, there was also a physical altercation.
NASCAR reacted by throwing the book at Wallace. The driver was suspended for 1 race.
Wallace suspended by NASCAR after wrecking Kyle Larson
Also last year, Noah Gragson hooked Sage Karam in the left rear at Road America. In that case, it brought a $30,000 fine and a 30 point penalty.
Noah Gragson wrecks Sage Karam willfully; Causes 13 car crash (Video)
NASCAR has noticeably become more strict in these very situations. Any penalties would likely be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday. With the race taking place on a Monday due to rain, a Wednesday penalty report is most likely.
Elliott has already missed 6 races in the 2023 season. The driver suffered a broken leg during a snowboard accident in Colorado which forced him to sit on the sidelines. The driver has already been gifted a NASCAR waiver however, he’ll need to pick up a win and/or climb into the top 16 on points alone.
Links
Chase Elliott | Denny Hamlin | Charlotte Motor Speedway | NASCAR
