Todd Gilliland offered an in-depth explanation of his involvement in the massive multi-car crash at Atlanta Motor Speedway during the Quaker State 400, describing how he has reviewed the incident nearly 100 times to fully understand what occurred. The Denny Hamlin Atlanta wreck analysis centers on the chain reaction that started when Kyle Larson’s No. 42 car pushed Hamlin’s No. 11 sideways, triggering a large pileup on the track.
The collision began when Larson aggressively shoved Hamlin’s car, causing Hamlin to lose control and slow the pack behind them. This disruption escalated into a 23-car wreck involving prominent drivers such as Joey Logano, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Austin Cindric. The crash damaged several Team Penske cars, effectively ending their competitive hopes as none of their drivers were able to finish the race. Hamlin’s vehicle spun across the circuit, prompting a red flag and drastically altering the race’s running order.
Gilliland ultimately completed the race in 27th place and now holds 28th position in the season standings, while Denny Hamlin dropped in the points rankings following the incident.
Todd Gilliland Reflects on the Incident and His Role in the Crash
During a media session, Todd Gilliland openly discussed how the wreck unfolded and acknowledged his part in the sequence of events. He noted:
“Yeah. I’ve watched the replays of that probably 100 times. I really don’t know. I feel like the 11 had the 42 jacked up and the 42 was pushing the guy in front of him. There was literally eight of us in the train. Obviously, looking back now knowing they wrecked, I should have had a bigger gap. That’s on me to look out for those guys, but they were all tight in front of them.” —Todd Gilliland, NASCAR driver
Gilliland elaborated on the confusion and tight racing conditions leading up to the wreck, adding:
“I think he got the 42 sideways and that kind of slowed them down a little bit and then I got to their bumper, slowed down, and then I was getting pushed as well. I don’t know. To me, I hate that I was part of it. I definitely contributed to it, but on the flip side of it, it definitely seemed like maybe more of a racing deal.” —Todd Gilliland, NASCAR driver
At 24 years old and hailing from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, Todd Gilliland is a third-generation racer and the son of former NASCAR driver and team owner David Gilliland. Todd distinguished himself early by becoming the youngest winner in the ARCA Menards Series and secured back-to-back championships in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016 and 2017. Following this success, he guided his career through the Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports before moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports.
Denny Hamlin’s Perspective on the Impact of the Atlanta Wreck
Despite being heavily involved in the massive 22-car crash that disrupted the 2025 Atlanta NASCAR Cup Series race, Denny Hamlin maintained a surprisingly positive view of the incident. Speaking on his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin described the wreck as the best thing that happened during the event because it changed the race’s dynamic significantly.
“That wreck was the best thing to happen to that race. There’s no question about it whatsoever because what it did is it created space between the cars. We were not log-jammed two-by-two-by-two-by-two-by-two. There was space. There was only 15 cars maybe that were not damaged. So if you look, all the passing that was done at the end of that race… It was created through space of the cars.” (7:40 onwards) —Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
With only around 15 undamaged cars still competing after the crash, the usual tight grouping on the track was broken, allowing drivers more room to maneuver and pass, which in turn made the closing laps more competitive and engaging.
The Broader Consequences of the Multi-Car Wreck
The wreck at Atlanta Motor Speedway significantly impacted the race and season standings for many top drivers and teams. Team Penske suffered considerable setbacks as none of their cars survived the crash to finish the race, highlighting the scale of the disruption. The chaotic incident forced a red flag that paused the event and reshuffled the competitive order, while points standings shifted due to the event’s fallout.
The wreck underscores the inherently risky and unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing, especially on high-speed tracks like Atlanta Motor Speedway where tight packs can quickly escalate into multi-car pileups. For drivers like Todd Gilliland and Denny Hamlin, these events can have immediate career and championship implications, but they also influence the flow and excitement of the race itself.
Looking ahead, the analysis and lessons drawn from the Denny Hamlin Atlanta wreck will likely inform race strategies and safety measures in upcoming events. Drivers and teams will scrutinize close racing tactics more carefully, while fans can expect more intense battles shaped by evolving race conditions after such major incidents.
