Daytona 'big one' collects half the field, wreck leaves heavy damage to Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott
Just like that in Stage 2 we have the big one! Daytona delivered a massive wreck in the middle of the race with massive consequences for Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott. This is going to change the NASCAR regular season championship race and playoff bubble battle.
This was the most calm part of the race. It felt like the field had gotten into a lull. Maybe that is where things went wrong. Out of nowhere on Lap 60, Ross Chastain, Noah Gragson, and John Hunter Nemechek all went flying around the track.
There was a little too much pushing and shoving going on. This wreck collected what looked like most of the field in one way or another. Points were lost and gained during this wreck.
Cars started to check up, Noah Gragson had to check up and Corey LaJoie got into him, sending him into the field. From there, chaos in the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Denny Hamlin was one of the casualties.
This wreck put Chase Elliott out of the race. He was 10 points behind Tyler Reddick for the regular season points lead. So, that is going to sink his hopes heading into Darlington. But Kyle Larson is still in the race, and Reddick has to race him well if he wants to keep a lead over him.
The there is the bubble battle. Ross Chastain might get forced into a must-win situation at Darlington. Chris Buescher and Bubba Wallace appear to be two drivers capable of winning tonight. That would hurt Chastain quite a bit.
For Denny Hamlin, it’s the equivalent of being kicked while he’s down.
Denny Hamlin explains what happened at Daytona
What a week it has been for Denny Hamlin. A 75-point penalty, including 10 playoff points, and now a DNF right after that. Between NASCAR officials and the Daytona track, it’s been a punishing few days for Hamlin.
There are moments at Daytona that you can’t avoid. Denny Hamlin and a lot of other drivers were involved in one of those moments almost halfway through the second stage. Too much pushing and shoving and then the field was wrecking.
After spending his time in the infield care center, Denny Hamlin spoke to the TV broadcast about the wreck. It was one of those things that happens at Daytona.
“Well, Stage 1 everyone was kind of going all out there because we’re inside that fuel window where we’re able to run 100% and get to the end of the stage,” Hamlin explained. “Then Stage 2, obviously a little fuel saving going on which causes a little stack up. Just seemed like some guys wanted to go, some guys didn’t and it just caused a little contact there.”