Denny Hamlin calls out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ty Gibbs for 'playing grabass' before late caution

Denny Hamlin wasn’t shy about calling out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and his teammate Ty Gibbs for their role in a late caution at Texas Motor Speedway.

The duo was back in traffic, fighting for a finish in the late teens and early twenties. However, they brought out a late caution, which set Hamlin up for a spin that left him with a P30 finish, while he was running P2 when the flag came out.

During the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin spoke about his feelings on the caution, and why he wishes the Stenhouse Jr. and Gibbs could’ve just let bygones be bygones, and the race go green until the final lap.

“While I hated seeing that Ricky Stenhouse caution,” Hamlin started, “I watch that caution now and I’m like, ‘God dang Ricky, like just keep it straight for 10 laps,’ but I guess he was trying to run in the back of the No. 54 or something. They were playing grabass back there for 20th.

“I don’t know what the hell they were doing. But I mean, it’s frustrating. S—. Like, damn. Keep it straight for the last 10 laps of the race.”

To further his point, Hamlin elaborated on the difference it made in the results of the race on Sunday, and how it changed the No. 11’s spot in the standings, going from the points leader to 28 points back in one fell swoop.

“I mean, it’s just — what a difference. Right? What a difference it makes in the results,” Hamlin added. “That one caution happens, and you go from, ‘I’m definitely winning this race,’ to I’ve finished 30th. And by the way, I’m going to take over the point lead when I do it. It’s now, I’m 28 points back, in third with a 30th place finish. So it just sucks.”

You can’t blame Hamlin for being disappointed, when it feels like he was so close to a podium finish and the points lead. The fact of the matter is that Hamlin still had a chance to win the race after the caution, but sent it in hard while racing Chase Elliott, and ended up spinning himself with that decision.

Still, it’s evident the what-if of the situation is truly grinding Denny Hamlin’s gears. One thing is for sure, the No. 11 wheelman recognizes the regular season title doesn’t mean as much as a Cup Series championship, so we’re willing to bet he’d rather it happen now than later in the season.