The end of Atlanta lingers on in people’s heads. The Ambetter Health 400 race on Sunday featured 11 caution periods, including 8 for wrecks. This was hardly the same as the Daytona 500’s wreckfest that caught 35 cars in its mess. However, one thing tied both races together – NASCAR’s last-lap caution calls. These crucial decisions shuffled the winner’s spot, attracting backlash – but Denny Hamlin is content.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was also trapped in a heartbreaking wreck at Daytona when Cole Custer tried to squeeze past him. That allowed William Byron to clinch the victory as a huge wreck unfolded behind him. But Denny Hamlin did not bash NASCAR for its caution call – supporting it – especially for the Atlanta race.

Denny Hamlin appreciates NASCAR’s priorities

Since the early days of the sport, safety has been paramount. The last fatality in NASCAR was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s tragic crash at the 2001 Daytona 500. After that, officials strove to make zero compromises about drivers’ safety. That is why caution flags are waved even on final laps although that shuffles the winning field wildly. Throwing last-lap cautions has been the hottest topic since the Duel qualifier when NASCAR apparently stole a photo finish between Austin Cindric and Erik Jones. During the Daytona 500, officials let William Byron and others race to the finish line before throwing the caution.

However, following a massive wreck at the Xfinity Series Atlanta race, NASCAR let cars speed through the accident. President Steve Phelps acknowledged that mistake and did not let it repeat in Atlanta. After Josh Berry spun out, officials let the race end on a green-white-checkered flag and Christopher Bell won. Denny Hamlin appreciated NASCAR for this decision: “Let’s at least applaud them on making the right call for safety because safety should always be number one and entertainment should be number two. I mean, it sucks that it ends this way but we’re the ones that chose to wreck.” 

Accumulating top speeds through debris can be dangerous for wrecked drivers. Denny Hamlin underlined the safety problems: “I can assure you there’s not a driver in the field who would want that race to stay green, given the scenarios that were going on. You keep these races green and somebody will end up getting hurt. There’s just too much opportunity and the drivers are way too vulnerable when they’re sitting in the middle of the racetrack and cars have to go by them at full speed to gain spots.” NASCAR’s inconsistent calls through the weekend were questionable. So Hamlin gave his call: “Let’s start a new trend of consistency starting now.”

Despite the valid points that Denny Hamlin made, fans objected.

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The NASCAR community takes the opposite side

Well, along with heightened safety standards, the racing product has fallen in NASCAR too. The high number of wrecks during the Daytona 500 is a prime example. With the current superspeedway package, cars cannot pass each other and are gridlocked, leaving drivers with no choice but to keep fuel-saving. This makes for very drab racing anyway. So one fan opted to call for green flag finishes: “I think they should leave the damaged cars out there. It would make for much better racing. Nascar is too boring now.” Another NASCAR fan opposed Denny Hamlin’s take, and tried to do it as cordially as possible They wrote, “I respectfully disagree.”

Green flag finishes, despite the risky situation posed to wrecked drivers, make races exciting. Ending a race under green no matter the number of caution flags would at least shave off controversial finishes. “I like listening to Denny and his podcast but i disagree. Races should be REQUIRED to finish under green no matter how many times it takes. advocating for finishing races under Caution if it’s the last lap is a wussy move.” Ultimately, Cup Series drivers race for the enormous cash prizes involved. That is what makes green-white-checkered flag finishes more questionable, as the winner’s legitimacy is doubted. One fan wrote: “We gonna just act like money isn’t number 1?”

There could be better ways to solve this icky situation. For instance, NASCAR could make reasoned decisions. If the wreck is within the racing line, throw the yellow flag. If it’s at the back of the field or outside of the line, drivers should be allowed to keep racing. So one fan opined that there must be some way around both Denny Hamlin’s and other fans’ opinions: “I understand safety, but there needs to be a better way. I’m sure most drivers and fans alike would prefer to see good, hard racing to the finish. Why not a rule that a race must end under green. So many great races are ruined with last lap wrecking.”

Evidently, the debate is ongoing about NASCAR’s last-lap caution calls. Let us see how officials take a stance in the upcoming races.