Hamlin crossed the road fifth, however was scored second because of the timing of the warning. Dillon entered Richmond thirty second within the common season factors, however Sunday’s victory has vaulted him into the playoffs and ensures that he is not going to finish the 12 months any decrease than sixteenth.
“We’re by no means ever gonna get taken critically as a sport as a result of we’ve no actual officiating,” lamented Hamlin in a post-race media scrum.
“I knew the No. 3 [Dillon] was going to do one thing foolish in [Turn] 3. I noticed him driving in. He wasn’t going to cease till he hit the No. 22 [Logano].
A product of the championship format
Hamlin went on responsible the present format, which incentivizes profitable over all the pieces else. “We’re making an attempt to fabricate a majority of these moments and once we do it and we glance foolish like tonight … your sport has mud on its face. However I believe there’s in all probability individuals in Daytona [NASCAR headquarters] who love this shit and so they’re those who’re sending this sport backwards.”
As for the transfer itself, Hamlin declared that “it is clearly foul. It is truthful in NASCAR. We’re only a completely different league, proper? There aren’t any penalties for tough driving or something like that. It opens up the chance for Austin to have the ability to simply do no matter he needs.”
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Whereas spinning Logano was ugly, the right-hook that despatched Hamlin careening into the surface wall is much more problematic. NASCAR has set a precedent that strikes like that may and will likely be penalized. Chase Elliott was suspended for one race after hooking Hamlin into the surface wall in the course of the 2023 Coke 600, and Bubba Wallace was parked for the same transfer on Kyle Larson the 12 months earlier than.
“The issue I had, I obtained hooked in the proper rear once more. I am simply minding my enterprise. He turned left and hooked me in the proper rear. Blew my rattling shoulder out,” mentioned Hamlin.
Though NASCAR would not penalize soiled driving except it turns into an apparent security concern, Hamlin nonetheless believes {that a} line was crossed, however added: “It is an invisible line. It is not outlined. I imply, they’ve guidelines and provisions for stuff like this, however they by no means take motion for it.
“What occurs is you see younger guys developing within the brief observe ranks seeing that, and so they assume it is high quality. That is why we see a number of the decrease collection end up the way in which they do in these green-white-checkered conditions as a result of a number of the greatest that they are seeing on Sunday do stuff like that.
“I imply, who am I to throw stones in a glass home? However I definitely by no means gained one which manner.”
Logano was far much less civil in his tackle the incident, which could be learn beneath.
