Denny Hamlin reacts to Austin Cindric right-rear hook retaliation on Ty Dillon

Following the weekend at COTA, one of the biggest questions is whether NASCAR will penalize Austin Cindric for an apparent right-rear hook of Ty Dillon early in the race.

The incident occurred early in the race, just four laps in.

After coming around a corner, Dillon managed to push Cindric off the track to the right side. Cindric then just waited for his chance on the ensuing straightaway, lined up Dillon and appeared to turn left into his back right bumper.

Dillon spun around and hit the wall.

At least one veteran NASCAR insider and current media personality thinks the incident was close enough that he’s not willing to weigh in much on whether Austin Cindric should face a penalty.

“I don’t know. I feel like we’re an influential group here, so should I really say?” Denny Hamlin said on the Actions Detrimental podcast. “Because people will take it and run with it, and then if it does or doesn’t (go that way) it’s like… you know, I don’t know.”

So what might be the actual punishment, should Austin Cindric be penalized for his move against Dillon?

According to NASCAR insider Seth Eggert, NASCAR typically hands out one or two of three punishments for an incident of in-race retaliation where both drivers are able to continue.

NASCAR can issue a multi-lap hold, a points penalty and/or a monetary fine.

That’s what folks like Hamlin will be watching mid-week as NASCAR makes its final penalty rulings for the weekend at COTA. For his part, Hamlin isn’t going to project an outcome for this one with Austin Cindric.

“Truthfully, I’m going to Ross Chastain this one because I don’t have the data to sit here and say did he or did he not turn hard left,” Hamlin said. “If the data shows it it’s going to be a hard one to avoid a penalty. But if it looks 50-50 I think that they’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and tell him, ‘Buddy, you were close on that one.'”