Denny Hamlin admitted that he was making Ross Chastain’s day even more difficult Sunday at the World Tech Circuit after Chastain sent him to the wall early in the NASCAR Cup Series Race at the Global Technology Raceway In Madison, Illinois.
“But I didn’t touch his car,” Hamlin said. “We had a miserable (day). We went from running up front to driving around the car eight laps or whatever we were all day. So you (you) have to weigh the odds of the time to make sure they get the message.”
Hamlin hit the wall on lap 65 when Chastain flagged him in the rear fender heading into Turn 1 while fighting for sixth. Not only did Hamlin damage the right side of his Toyota, but Team 11 needed a toe tie repair and spent the rest of the afternoon several laps.
The connection, according to Hamlin, came after Chastain failed to make a pass several times he had tried before.
Sunday:Lugano beat Kyle Busch in overtime for his second win of the season
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“I thought he was just being aggressive,” Hamlin said. “I think he got inside us, he kept trying to zip us, and he was washing the track right in the door for three laps in a row. Then he finally got in behind us and ran after us. It’s a choice you make.”
Chastain likely got the message Hamlin was trying to send even without Hamlin getting back in touch. Out of competition for a good result, Hamlin repeatedly had a rough time on Chastain when he had the chance as the #1 seed went with the leaders and Hamlin was swinging.
Hamlin even ran Chastain under the apron on the back while the Trackhouse driver tried to pass him on the inside. Dust flew as he tried to get Hamlin.
On lap 102, Player 1 made contact with Chase Elliott, resulting in a spin. Elliot was enraged and gave Hamlin another chance to mess with him. In the second half, on lap 107, Elliot pushed Chastain into Turn 1 and knocked him out of the way, then Hamlin climbed onto the track to collect him again.
“You only want to pay when it’s necessary,” Hamlin said after finishing 34th out of 36 drivers. “Once he’s finished taking the Number 9 after me, he (Chastine) isn’t in competition for the win anymore. So – I’ve said many times – you’re going to have to guard these guys really hard just to get their attention sort of, but it has to be meaningful. It will be. On a useful day.”
Despite his actions on Sunday, and Elliott also telling Chastain that he was crazy, Hamlin said more must be done.
“You have to do more than that,” Hamlin said. “There are no warnings. When you make decisions—and he was clearly not shy after our call—there is no sense of consciousness there saying, ‘Maybe I’m a little aggressive.’ That’s his decision. He can honestly make any decision he wants. He’s his own man, and he’s been successful. Very much at what he does.
“But in the end, yes, sport is self-restraint, and usually when you least expect it, and when you mean it the most, when you come back again.”
Chastain left the race as if he owed an apology to many of his competitors.
“It’s unacceptable,” Chastain said of his day after finishing eighth. “It’s totally unacceptable for me to do that,” Chastain said. “For (Hamlin), number 9 (Elliott), and number 34 (Michael McDowell); a lot of guys. I’ve been way off my lead today and getting caught up in people is unacceptable on this level.
“I can’t believe, standing here right now, that I (made) so many mistakes in a row. It’s a thing for one (mistake), but I just cut my car over my head today.”
Calling Elliott, who finished 21st, was definitely a mistake, Chastain said.
He said, “I drove (turn 3) and slid right in front of me into (in the corner). That’s no excuse in any way. I blew out the corner completely and then got into the middle of three. [wide]And I shouldn’t have been there.
“This is just horrible driving on my part. I shouldn’t be in this car if I am going to do that.”
