Denny Hamlin was not exempt from NASCAR’s eye when the sanctioning body issued a list of post-race penalties on Wednesday morning in relation to last weekend’s event at Phoenix Raceway.
Along with the news that Hendrick Motorsports and Kaulig Racing would be penalized for unapproved parts modifications, NASCAR also addressed Hamlin and recent comments he made regarding a late-race incident between he and Ross Chastain at Phoenix.
NASCAR has fined Hamlin $50,000 and deducted 25 driver points for violating Sections 4.4 of NASCAR’s Member Code of Conduct.
The sections referenced involve “Attempting to manipulate the outcome of the race or championship”; “Wrecking or spinning another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from competition as a result”; and “Actions by a NASCAR member that NASCAR finds to be detrimental to stock car racing or NASCAR.”
The incident in question occurred on the final lap of Sunday’s 317-mile race.
As the field approached the checkered flag, Hamlin shoved the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing car into the wall, costing he and Chastain multiple positions as they were scored 23rd (Hamlin) and 24th (Chastain), respectively.
Hamlin later admitted on his Actions Detrimental podcast that the contact was intentional.
“My crew chief told me there were 18 cars on the lead lap. And at that point, I said, ‘Alright, well I’m probably running sixth or seventh, I’m about to get passed by everybody behind me who’s on fresh tires. I’m about to finish in the mid-teens,’” Hamlin said.
“I said, ‘You’re (Chastain) coming with me buddy.’”
Previous to the fateful moment on lap 317, the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing entry had employed a two-tire pit strategy, rather than taking four fresh tires like other drivers — namely, Chastain.
“It wasn’t a mistake. No, it wasn’t a mistake. I unleashed, I let the wheel go and I said he’s coming with me,” Hamlin admitted. “I saw that we were the only people up top, so I said I’m going to send him into the fence and door him … I got caught up in it because when I got pinned, he was between me and the wall, so I got all screwed up and I lost a bunch of positions for my team, which was stupid.”
On the podcast, Hamlin also reported that he and Chastain had talked together following the race and are “in a better place” than before. The two had a heated, on-track rivalry last season, with each driver intentionally wrecking or making contact with one another at various races throughout the year.
“I think we’re willing to put the past behind us and I think that we’re going to judge each other from this point forward. I think that’s the fairest way to do it,” Hamlin said. “It cost both of us here.”