Denny Hamlin reacts to Alex Bowman Roval disqualification, playoff picture changing

The surprise disqualification of Alex Bowman was shocking news, but Denny Hamlin ended up benefitting in the end. Thanks to the DQ, Hamlin’s 23XI Racing No. 45 team has now made it to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR owners championship as well as the drivers.

Denny Hamlin was relieved by the Alex Bowman news. However, he knows things could still change. An appeal is expected to be made today and a decision later this week.

On Actions Detrimental, Hamlin reacted to the DQ minutes after it was announced.

“So, he’s [Bowman] out. For now,” Hamlin said. “His car was too light in postrace tech, and now he’s going to be out. And this was such a key moment because I didn’t realize until I listened to Joey’s interview when he was like, ‘Well, I guess we’re just going to confuse everyone because we’re still in on the owners but we’re out on the drivers.’ I was like, ‘Oh s**t am I out then? Is my car out?’ I was like, ‘No the 45 is out. No! Dang it!’ Out by one point and the reason is, this is just so complicated.

“…This goes back to Kyle Larson missing Charlotte. So, actually, the 5 car won the owners championship in the regular season and Tyler Reddick won the drivers. Tyler Reddick the driver had five more points than what the car had. He made the cut by four points. Well, the car was one point shy. So, that was all pre-Alex Bowman DQ and now everything changes. For now.”

Denny Hamlin unsure Alex Bowman DQ will be changed

Is Denny Hamlin nervous about the Bowman appeal? Well…

“I can tell you, has Hendrick ever lost an appeal?” Hamlin asked his cohost and producer. “Just every one of their penalties has been tweaked.”

So, Hendrick Motorsports has won a couple of appeals in the last few years. Usually it is a tweak to the points penalty or something of that nature. But in this case, a straight up disqualification, how will they get out of that?

Hamlin is unsure as well.

“I’m thinking about this, how are they going to get out of this?” Hamlin continued. “They can’t touch the car, NASCAR is going to impound the car. Surely they’re dying to just get within a few feet of that car to find a way to get some weight in that thing. Somehow some way but I think they’re screwed.”

Alex Bowman was having a great postseason. Hendrick Motorsports had all four cars into the Round of 8 for the first time ever. Now, that has been taken away.