Denny Hamlin spun round on Lap 64 in the course of the Toyota Save Mart 350 on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. Whereas it initially seemed like Carson Hocevar spun Hamlin, wanting on the replays, it was a domino impact that started with Alex Bowman hitting Brad Keselowski. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing star lately got here out and cut up the blame for his spin.
Denny Hamlin began the race contained in the Prime 5 and was successfully operating within the Prime 10 for almost all of the race earlier than his spin, which derailed his progress. In the course of the restart with 47 laps left, going into Flip 7, Hamlin spun round after Hocevar bumped the No. 11.
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Trying again on the spin, it began with Alex Bowman within the No. 48 Chevrolet bumping into Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 RFK Racing Ford, who then bumped Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet, and finally Hamlin being on the receiving finish of the domino impact.
Talking on the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin unfold the blame for the crash throughout three drivers as he ,
“To me personally, it simply appeared like the information is simply too messy to essentially lock in on one individual. I do know it’s straightforward to assume there’s obtained to be somebody in charge. I hear you, however I believe it’s 33%-33%-33% of the No. 77, the No. 6, and the No. 48. They have been all hitting one another. No one needed to get off the bumper of the man in entrance of you, and the man means up there may be the one which obtained spun.”
“What was disappointing is that they got here from to this point again. I’m 4 automobile lengths clear of those guys. What are they doing operating into the again of me? Except they’re simply ping-ponging off one another, they usually did. They simply saved shoving. Sadly, I obtained the worst finish of it,” Hamlin added
The No. 11 driver is battling Tyler Reddick for the common season championship, and a powerful end result at Sonoma would’ve put him in a stronger place.
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Denny Hamlin hails NASCAR for eliminating the ‘win, and also you’re in’ rule
NASCAR Cup Collection driver Denny Hamlin poses with the trophy after successful the Nice American Getaway 400 on June 14, 2026. Picture Credit: © Taj Falconer / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs
Forward of the 2026 season, NASCAR confirmed the comeback of ‘the Chase’, changing the ‘win and also you’re in’ format to get into the playoffs. Denny Hamlin within the newest episode of Actions Detrimental highlighted how each driver is listening to the standings relatively than simply aiming for a win.
“Eliminating the win and also you’re in. Oh, perhaps the most important, finest change ever, as a result of now we all know somebody can’t simply get fortunate and pop one off from twenty fourth in level. You bought 26 races to show your self proper and so one good or unhealthy week shouldn’t be the indicator of whether or not you’re in or out prefer it’s no, you bought a giant previous pattern measurement,” stated Hamlin
“Anyone from thirtieth shouldn’t be gonna simply get in and take your spot that you just’ve been operating sixteenth, you realize for 25 weeks. After which on the 26 weeks, any individual thirtieth and factors simply knocks you out. That doesn’t appear truthful to me. Unquestionably, all of us care about our standings now greater than ever. All these guys know that it’s over that ten-week interval. You’ve obtained to start out with as many factors as you probably can. I believe the format they did only a nice job with it,” Denny Hamlin added
With Reddick dealing with a steering wheel subject within the early levels of the race and going six laps down on the leaders, the P26 end for Hamlin was sufficient to take the lead within the championship.
