Denny Hamlin slams Austin Dillon into gravel trap at COTA
Bringing out a late caution to really make this race interesting, Denny Hamlin absolutely cleaned Austin Dillon out and into the gravel. Dillon got stuck as a result and the caution was brought out while NASCAR safety crews pulled him from the hazard pit.
Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon have not had a great day in Austin, Texas. Dillon’s day was definitely hurt by this incident. There isn’t a lot of time to make up for it, either.
This was just a Hamlin issue. Cleans Dillon out and keeps on moving. A tough end to the afternoon.
Earlier in the race, Denny Hamlin was involved in his own incident. He was the hammer to Austin Dillon’s nail in the one above. But the roles were reversed on Lap 1, Turn 1.
Ross Chastain didn’t make the apex of the turn and ran into Chase Elliott. That sent the 9 car around and made his day so much more difficult.
Denny Hamlin spins to start COTA race
Lap 1 and we have trouble! Chase Elliott was spun around by Ross Chastain going into Turn 1 on the first lap and chaos ensued. In the aftermath, Denny Hamlin and Connor Zilisch both took damage as cars piled up in the NASCAR Cup Series race.
After starting in the front three rows, Ross Chastain made a huge move into that first turn. It happens every year and it almost never works out for the people involved. Chastain didn’t make it work, either.
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Instead, Chase Elliott gets turned and then guys like Hamlin and Zilisch took damage. Just not a great move early in this race.
Denny Hamlin kept it moving but has had issues in the first stage keeping up his pace. However, his right front fender was more or less ripped off in the incident. As for Connor Zilisch, he had some toe link issues and a flat right front tire that had to be changed.
Chase Elliott is also working his way back up through the field. Whatever these drivers can do to stay on the lead lap and make it to the stage caution. Once that yellow falls, everything will be lined up again for guys like Zilisch and Elliott to recoup and respond in the second stage.
When it comes to road course racing, guys like Elliott and Zilisch have a chance to rebound this afternoon. It won’t be so easy for drivers like Hamlin, especially with the damage to his fender.