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Denny Hamlin 'didn't love' Ty Gibbs retaliating on Justin Haley at Bowman Gray

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•about 21 hours•

NickGeddesNews

Ty Gibbs
Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Ty Gibbs took issue with Justin Haley spinning him out during Sunday’s 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier for The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and retaliated in a fiery manner.

The damage Gibbs’ car sustained in the Lap 64 incident kept him from having a shot at advancing to the 200-lap feature later in the night. As Gibbs made his way to the pit area behind the racetrack, he made a quick stop next to Haley’s No. 7 Chevrolet. Gibbs ran into the right side of Haley’s car and the front end of his No. 54 Toyota went airborne before he exited the track.

Denny Hamlin reacts to Ty Gibbs-Justin Haley incident at Bowman Gray

Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin didn’t like what he saw from Gibbs in that moment, he said on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast.

“It’s so hard to be mentally tough in the moments you get bounced around and you feel like well, I gotta show I’m not gonna take it, so do something back,” Hamlin said. “It’s almost like the NFL where a personal foul — someone shoves you, next thing you know you push them in the face, and you get the flag. Maybe find a different way to get back at them. Certainly, didn’t love it, didn’t look great. It just happened to be weird how the tires rolled over each other which made his car launch there, but it looked worse than it actually was.

“I was right there when it happened. He didn’t have a whole lot of speed, I think it’s just the tires rolled right over each other, and it caused the launch. But still, it’s something that NASCAR isn’t gonna love or anything like that. Again, he’s expecting to take that next step and be a race winner and a playoff guy. These moments, it’s really hard to not let things get to you and he’s still a really young guy trying to find his way. He’ll figure it out.”

Gibbs, 22, could face discipline from NASCAR for his retaliation. After failing to transfer out of the LCQ, Gibbs spoke to the media. He meant to hit Haley, but he wasn’t trying to ramp his car into the air.

“I don’t know,” Gibbs said, via Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. “I just had a little left front damage and gave him a little tap, but didn’t mean to make it that big.”