Denny Hamlin blames Chase Elliott running out of gas on the 'entire team'

Denny Hamlin believes there’s plenty of blame to go around for Chase Elliott running out of gas at Watkins Glen.

According to Hamlin, this isn’t just a mistake made by the driver or the crew chief. Elliott’s entire team should be blamed for the mistake that might’ve cost them their best chance at sneaking into the playoffs.

“It’s hard not to throw someone under the bus here, except for the entire team,” explained Hamlin, via his Actions Detrimental podcast. “People want to pin this on (Crew Chief) Alan Gustafson. You can try. And he’s the leader. He’s responsible. But where’s Chase Elliott in this? I mean, he’s experienced enough. If (Hamlin’s Crew Chief) Chris Gabehart said to me, ‘Flip your switch and then come third time by,’ I immediately would’ve said, ‘That’s not right.’ I immediately would’ve said, ‘That’s not right. It’s not third time. I can’t go that far. I know I cannot got that far.’ That’s just, that’s elementary.”

Evidently, Hamlin wants to know why nobody believed the three laps comment was alarming, and even called out Hendrick Motorsports entire organization, including their war room, as a whole for not catching it. 

“So they said it multiple times, and why was it not a red flag to anyone that was hearing it? They have a war room of people that listen to the communication, as well. Where is the button where someone’s saying, ‘Did he just say third time by? Can we roll that back?’ Because that’s what they would do. ‘Hey Alan, that’s not right. He needs to come next time.’ I just find it some extremely bizarre,” added the Joe Gibbs Racing wheelman. “Not Chase, not Alan, not anyone who heard that communication multiple times, did not raise their hand and say, ‘Are we sure our math is correct?’ Because it’s three times worse than it should be.

“Like there’s no way. You’d be lucky to go a lap. So it’s hard not to throw one person under the bus, because you can’t. It’s everyone’s fault.”

Alas, it was certainly a shocking moment, and one that you wouldn’t expect out of a team that’s reached the pinnacle of NASCAR in the past. Still, Elliott’s hopes aren’t all dashed, as he still has a chance to win his way in this Saturday at Daytona.

Regardless, it’s going to be a steep climb for Chase Elliott, but what more exciting way to get into the playoff is there than a walk-off win. He’ll have plenty of supporters hoping he gets the job done.