In a recent episode of his podcast, “Dale Jr. Download,” former NASCAR driver and Media Mogul Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed the controversial incident between his former colleagues, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin. The incident occurred during the Coca-Cola 600 race in Charlotte. As Dale Jr. delved into the incident, he expressed surprise and disbelief at the actions of his former associates.
The incident in question transpired when Elliott intentionally crashed into Hamlin, leading to both drivers being eliminated from the race. This act of aggression shocked many fans and left Earnhardt questioning the behavior of his former colleagues.
He sarcastically remarked on his podcast, “Oh, they did? I don’t seem to remember that part of the race. When did this happen?”
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Dale Earnhardt Jr Reflects on Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin’s Collision
Earnhardt, known for his laid-back and friendly demeanor, found it hard to believe that Elliott and Hamlin, whom he considered “super nice guys,” would engage in such behavior.
He pointed out their impressive racing credentials and questioned the clash between them.
“So you’re telling me Chase Elliott, the guy who won the Xfinity Series championship here, one of my teammates and drives for Hendrick Motorsports, which I just love, had a crash with Denny Hamlin, who’s a part of Dirty Mo Media?” Earnhardt asked incredulously.
He continued, “Denny Hamlin? The guy who was in victory lane 2004, Daytona 500 with me? Brought my trophy back to the bus, that one?”
“Shoot! Damn! I know those guys really well. Doesn’t sound like them”
Despite his disbelief, Earnhardt acknowledged that there might be a history between the two drivers that led to the incident. He recalled seeing a similar incident earlier in the race, where Hamlin slid into Elliott, causing tension between the two.
Earnhardt then stated, “I think they’ve had history. So, I was watching this, the lap before that. There was a restart and it kind of gets packed up. Denny is sliding up into Chase, basically the same thing that happened a lap or two later when the crash goes down. You know, I saw that, and I was like, ‘Ooh, Denny Man, you’re gonna piss him off’.’
“Honestly, anytime somebody slides into you, man, you just lose it. It happened a few times during the race with some other drivers, and you’re just like, Oh, what’s the other guy gonna do?”
WATCH THIS STORY: “It’s F***ing Fantastic”- Denny Hamlin Puts His Money on Michael Jordan’s Golf Course Instead of Daytona 500 of Golf
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Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin Face Consequences Of Charlotte Crash
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Unfortunately, the clash between Elliott and Hamlin had severe consequences for both drivers. NASCAR suspended Elliott for the next Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois after ruling that he intentionally crashed into Hamlin. Hamlin expressed his anger towards Elliott, claiming that the incident was a tantrum and that he shouldn’t be racing the following week. The suspension drew comparisons to a prior incident involving Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson, where Wallace was also suspended for intentionally wrecking Larson.
Although Elliott denied intentionally causing the crash, stating that Hamlin had forced him into the outside wall, the NASCAR ruling stood. The collision resulted in both drivers being eliminated from the race, with their cars sustaining significant damage.
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As NASCAR fans process the fallout from this incident, many will be eager to see how Elliott and Hamlin move forward. Earnhardt’s candid comments on his podcast highlight the impact that such incidents can have on a driver’s reputation and how their actions can shatter the image they have cultivated over the years.
It remains to be seen how Elliott and Hamlin will address this incident and rebuild their public image, but one thing is certain: their actions have left a lasting impression on the NASCAR community.