After two of Rick Hendrick’s top drivers failed to make it past the regular season into the playoffs, the weekend in Las Vegas piled more misery on them. However, unlike his teammate Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott is still in the hunt for an owner’s title for the #9 Chevy.
Looking to rack a decent finish, Elliott had high hopes till it all went for a quick toss during the qualifying. NASCAR’s Golden Boy suffered a right rear tire cut that relegated his race start from the bottom last spot, starting the race 36th. While the #9 driver met his match before the race on Saturday, his teammate met his in the middle of the race as Rick Hendrick once again felt the Vegas heat.
With his driver losing the momentum and getting into the wall, NASCAR nation showed its rowdy side as they fans a dig at Mr. H’s playoff outcast, brutally roasting him using Denny Hamlin‘s rant.
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Misfortune strikes Rick Hendrick & Co, a year after Denny Hamlin brutally called him out
Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin have a history together. Last year in Martinsville, the two got the community’s attention after the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran called out the #48 driver of Rick Hendrick. Frustrated with the way Bowman raced him during the closing laps of the race in the overtime, Hamlin doubled down, calling him a “hack.”
The 42-year-old said, “He’s just a hack, he’s just an absolute hack,” after the late contact with the #48 Chevy. While Bowman was fortunate to get back home with a win that day, he wasn’t so fortunate in Vegas during the opening race of the round of 8. Following his teammate Chase Elliott’s qualifying tragedy, getting his tire cut and being shoved down to the 36th spot for the start, trouble came looking for Bowman in the middle of the race.
With just 3 laps to end Stage 2 of the race, Bowman spun out of control. Racing 9th, the #48 Chevy slipped while navigating the turn 4 of the 1.5-mile tri-oval track in Vegas. In fact, the high-speed spring was so dangerous that the car looked like it broke the steering rack as it went directly into the wall before it came to a stop.
The caution is out for @Alex_Bowman!
The No. 48 looks to have hit the wall and luckily doesn't collect anyone else.#NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SWTpktKpnm
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) October 15, 2023
WATCH THIS STORY: NASCAR 2024: Elliott and Hamlin unite against playoff changes
While Bowman was fortunate enough not to collect anyone along the way, he wasn’t so fortunate with the fans as they mocked him unapologetically, quoting Hamlin’s Martinsville rant.
NASCAR nation gets one below-the-belt as they bring up Denny Hamlin’s rant to denounce Alex Bowman
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Besides the drivers and their on-track antics, fans too have a bit of rowdiness in them. Usually, the race happenings are enough to bring them out. And that exactly is what happened during Sunday’s race in Vegas. After seeing Bowman spin off into the wall, frenzied fans showed their ugly side as they mercilessly mocked the driver online, quoting Hamlin, and denouncing him as a “hack.”
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Caution for Bowman.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 15, 2023
The sheer timing of the caution with 3 more laps to end the stage gave Bowman’s teammate, Kyle Larson an edge to seize both the first two stages, prompting fans to go after that as well. “Very timely caution thanks Bowman,” wrote one fan sarcastically.
“Saved the 5 wow”
“How convenient. Just in time to save Larson.”
Another fan poked the driver, “Mid caution for a mid driver”
Whereas another fan quoted the JGR veteran to shame Bowman, “Denny is never wrong. Hack.”
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With Elliott’s miserable qualifying run and his teammate, Bowman’s awful spin, Mr. H’s Vegas misery continues to make HMS fans anxious, especially with the fixture nearing its finale.
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