Chase Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports Replacement Apologizes After Ramming Into “Innocent Bystander” Denny Hamlin

This past weekend, Bristol’s dirt race erupted into a frenzy like never before. In the eye of the storm, Denny Hamlin once again found himself an “innocent bystander.” However, the pandemonium of Bristol dirt races is no secret, and the ill-suited nature of Cup Cars for dirt tracks only made things worse.

Last weekend, just before the end of stage 1, Chase Elliott‘s Hendrick Motorsports stand-in slammed into Hamlin, triggering a spin. Later, when NASCAR released the Race Hub’s RADIOACTIVE, the number 9 driver was heard apologizing for the debacle that ruined Hamlin’s race day.

What did Chase Elliott’s replacement say over the radio?

Josh Berry’s spotter said, “One (more lap) at the line. Hang on, Hang on, Hang on, Oh man.”

Then Berry responded, “Sorry I don’t even know how that happened.”

Later on, Hamlin said, “Oh of course.” Soon after Hamlin’s spotter said, “Yeah, innocent bystander.”

After the commotion, it was Kyle Larson who claimed victory in stage 1. Meanwhile, Hamlin’s car sustained damage as a result of the spin. Ultimately, the tumultuous race saw Hamlin’s teammate, Christopher Bell, emerge as the winner. Meanwhile, Hamlin secured a 22nd-place finish.

Read More: “It Was Intentional”: Denny Hamlin Insider Deciphers Ryan Preece’s “Perfectly Modified Nerf” Against Kyle Larson

Denny Hamlin’s Criticism of Bristol Dirt Track

While Bristol’s Dirt Track may not be a traditional dirt track, its unique nature has become synonymous with action-packed, chaotic racing. The combination of ill-suited Cup Cars and the unpredictable surface has often led to wild moments on the track.

Hamlin drew attention to the limited passing opportunities as one point of contention regarding the Bristol race. He observed that whoever led the initial lap at a particular stage seemed to dominate the entirety of that stage. Moreover, Hamlin pointed out that scheduling the race on Easter Sunday may have been an even more significant issue as it took drivers and teams away from their families during the holiday.

On his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, Hamlin said, “I don’t know that they have a personal vendetta with the dirt; I think it’s just racing on Easter. And when we had our drivers meeting, one of the — I think it was the track president — was like, ‘Happy Easter, everyone!’ And it was dead silent. No one said anything”

WATCH THIS STORY: “No clue how that is a penalty” – Kyle Busch exposes NASCAR’s “contradictory” side after being left in disbelief of Denny Hamlin’s controversial verdict. 

The Bristol dirt race stirred mixed emotions, from concerns about spins and limited passing to the controversial dirt-covered track. As the racing world reflects on the event, it remains to be seen how NASCAR will respond to these concerns going forward.