Denny Hamlin has firmly denied any responsibility for the collision that ended Chase Elliott’s race prematurely during the playoff event at Bristol last week. The incident, which took place on Lap 301, resulted in a Did Not Finish (DNF) for Elliott, marking his second such outcome this NASCAR season.
Amid growing criticism from fans blaming Hamlin for the crash involving Elliott, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver expressed surprise at the accusations. According to Hamlin’s perspective, it was John Hunter Nemechek who initially made contact with Elliott, causing him to lose control. This left Hamlin with no choice but to collide with Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports car to avoid further damage.
Denny Hamlin Explains What Really Happened in the Bristol Crash
Hamlin remarked on the incident and the fans’ reaction during an interview segment called “Actions Detrimental,” stating,
“I don’t know what they’re talking about. I was the second guy in contact.” – Denny Hamlin
“What it looked like happened is the 9 tried to get in a hole, and he was running significantly slower than the cars running the bottom,” Hamlin further explained. “John Hunter didn’t see it coming or didn’t check up in time…he hit him and when he hit him he stopped in front of me, so I then hit him.” – Denny Hamlin
Hamlin’s account emphasizes that the crash was triggered by Nemechek’s hit on Elliott, which forced Elliott’s car to stop unexpectedly, and Hamlin could not avoid the collision. The sequence of events challenges the fan narrative that placed Hamlin as the cause of Elliott’s misfortune.
Chase Elliott’s Playoff Position Amid Bristol Setback
Despite the disappointing finish, Elliott still maintains a slim buffer within the playoff standings. Currently ranked seventh, Elliott holds 3,013 points, positioning him five points above the cutoff line to advance further in the postseason. Meanwhile, Hamlin sits atop the leaderboard with a 21-point lead over Elliott.
The next race on the schedule is the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a track where Elliott has competed 11 times without securing a victory. Still, he has achieved two top-five finishes and a top-10, showing some level of competitiveness at this venue.
The Complexity Behind Teammate Dynamics in the Playoffs
At Bristol, while Elliott was taken out early, his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Alex Bowman continued in the race. Larson and Byron were already safely above the playoff cutoff, meaning their success would not threaten Elliott’s chances. However, Bowman, who was running on the lead lap at the time, stood below the cutoff line, making his potential victory a possible complication for Elliott’s playoff path.
After his crash, Elliott expressed his frustration about relying on his teammates’ results to stay in contention, saying,
“I need to understand where everybody’s at,” Chase Elliott said after exiting his car. “You know, I’m sure people have to pit and those numbers can certainly change, but cross our fingers and hope we get lucky. But it sucks.” – Chase Elliott
What Lies Ahead for Chase Elliott in the Playoffs
With just a few days remaining before the Round of 8 begins at New Hampshire, Elliott faces a critical challenge. To advance in the playoffs, he must either finish strongly in the next three races or secure a win to earn an automatic spot in the next round. The pressure intensifies as every race becomes crucial for Elliott’s championship hopes amid the ongoing tension over his playoff crash.
