Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was lucky to get out unscathed after his #11 car spun out, coming down the pit road at Talladega. The venue had received plenty of rain showers before the event, which seemed to cause Hamlin’s car to spin. However, he managed to keep his car intact despite spinning out and made his way to the pit stop. Having made contact with the oncoming Chevy car, the crew in the #11 pit box could be making some adjustments to Hamlin’s car.
This was only the beginning of his problems at the racetrack, as further into the race, Hamlin was involved in a brutal crash that ended his bid to win the event.
Denny Hamlin had a bittersweet day at Talladega
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The JGR driver was running in a close pack with his fellow Toyota drivers from LMC and his very own 23XI Racing. Such partnerships and teamwork are common in Superspeedway races. However, Bubba Wallace and Erik Jones got involved in a tussle that resulted in a big scrap. Three Toyota cars consisting of Wallace, Jones, and John Hunter Nemechek were done for the day. However, Hamlin’s #11 car was also caught up in the wreck, thus ending his day with a DNF finish.
This was a big blow to his ambitions and goals of trying to run consistently, which he has managed so far this season. On the flip side, Tyler Reddick, from the 23X1 team soon turned his disappointments into jubilation with a thrilling race win. This was the first Superspeedway win by any Toyota car in the NextGen era.
Sharing his thoughts on the win, Hamlin said, “I mean, every 23XI win is like watching your kid win. It always means a little bit more when they do it, when you do it… Man just so ecstatic for this race team and Tyler, Billy, and all the guys that really help make this happen. It’s great for Michael to get to enjoy it. He’s wanting to be in the victory lane for quite some time now and happy about how this team’s progressing. Yeah, it’s a Superspeedway win, but these guys are contending week in and week out, and they deserve the win.”
However, what caught fans’ attention was not Hamlin’s appreciation for his driver’s win but instead a comment he made mid-race. The #11 driver reportedly claimed he “hit water” while entering pit road that resulted in his half-spin. This didn’t sit well with a lot of fans who saw it as an opportunity to troll the JGR driver.
Fans react to Denny Hamlin’s spin early in the race during the pit stop
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The fans were not convinced by Hamlin’s verdict. They soon took to X and stated that the JGR driver was trying to make excuses for his own mistake. Taking a direct jibe at Hamlin, a user wrote, “Sounds like an excuse, Bob.”
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It is a known fact that Denny Hamlin does not have the best support from the NASCAR community. Highlighting his last week’s mistake of making an error at Texas, a fan wrote, “Two Weeks In A Row That Denny Hamlin Runs Out Of Talent”.
Two Weeks In A Row That Denny Hamlin Runs Out Of Talent
— Devin Cook (@DevinCook69) April 21, 2024
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Not buying into Hamlin’s complaints of hitting the water and spinning out, another fan was quick to point out why other drivers had no issues. “Looks pretty dry on tv. Everyone else did okay getting In”.
Another user who seemingly is attending the race from the grandstands questioned Hamlin’s tactics coming down the pit road. “I’m sitting right in front of it. I don’t see any water. Looked like he was just maneuvering late for his nearby pit”.