Ever since Dale Earnhardt’s tragic passing on February 18, 2001, NASCAR has made drivers’ safety their highest priority. They have succeeded. Since that accident, no driver has lost their life while competing in any of the three major series. At Michigan International Speedway, Corey LaJoie faced a harrowing flip while attempting to pass Noah Gragson. The 32-year-old’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro turned upside down and slid on the asphalt before reaching the grass.

While LaJoie was able to safely make his way out of the incident, Denny Hamlin shared his views that he would rather roll over, than hit a wall head-on at that speed.

Denny Hamlin sheds light on Next-Gen car safety

It wasn’t the first time a car flipped at Michigan International Speedway over the weekend, as a similar incident involving Ryan Sieg occurred in the Xfinity Series. Corey LaJoie, who is having a turbulent Cup Series season so far, having recently lost his seat at Spire Motorsports, had yet another weekend to forget at the FireKeepers Casino 400. The 32-year-old was driving on the inside line when he made contact with the left rear of Gragson’s No. 10 Ford Mustang, which forced his No. 7 Chevy to turn sideways before going airborne. The car then flipped over, with its roof scraping against the asphalt before barrel rolling when it hit the grass.

Speaking about Corey LaJoie’s incident in the post-race press conference, Denny Hamlin said, “As a driver, I haven’t rolled one over but I almost would rather roll one over than hit a wall head-on at that speed. I just feel like you’re at least getting rid of energy as you are tumbling. I can’t speak for him but certainly feel like we have a pretty safe car and I feel comfortable with the speeds we’re at. There’s just got to be a way when you turn these things sideways with that pan underneath the bottom, it’s literally just like a wedge. The air is pushing that thing right over the top. I just don’t know short of getting rid of the underbody, I just don’t know how you’re going to stop it.”

Hamlin’s logic of preferring to rather roll over than hit a wall head-on may have some merit. Dale Earnhardt Sr may be the most high-profile example of a driver whose car hit the unprotected concrete at high speed, resulting in a basilar skull fracture, which seems to be the leading cause of fatalities for NASCAR drivers. The same injury also claimed the lives of three other drivers: Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, and Tony Roper, just nine months before The Intimidator’s untimely death. While the Next-Gen car has been lauded for its safety standards, particularly in roll-over situations, it’s not surprising to see Hamlin preferring it to a high-speed impact with a concrete surface.

The accident led to Corey LaJoie being unable to finish the race for the second time this season. The North Carolina native is currently 31st in the driver standings, with just one top-five and top-ten result at Daytona International Speedway in the first race of the season. LaJoie is presently winless in 259 starts and is looking for a seat for 2025, with Denny Hamlin recommending that he prioritize race wins, even if that means not securing a Cup Series seat next season.

Hamlin shares valuable advice about LaJoie’s next career move

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Denny Hamlin has urged Corey LaJoie to settle for a seat in the Xfinity or Truck Series for the 2025 season, now that his split with Spire Motorsports is confirmed. The move will give the 32-year-old a valuable reset period, during which he can rediscover his love for racing, rebuild confidence in a less demanding environment, and get some race wins under his belt.

Speaking about LaJoie’s situation in the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin said, “I think this is an opportunity for him to go back down, I think he should go back down a series or two, and win. It worked for John Hunter Nemechek, for him to build his legitimacy back up into the sport. Cole Custer. You know, both Cole Custer and John Hunter are both going to get back an opportunity in the Cup Series, but you’ve got to do it. You gotta show these people that you can win.”

As the co-owner of 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin knows a thing or two about making tough decisions in a results-oriented sport like NASCAR. While he hasn’t had to part ways with a driver just yet, the 43-year-old recognizes just how difficult these decisions can be, especially in Corey LaJoie’s situation, who was the face of the Spire Motorsports team. If the driver wants to have a future at NASCAR’s highest level, it would be wise to prove himself, even if that means settling for a level lower than what he is accustomed to.

What are your thoughts about Corey LaJoie’s crash at Michigan International Speedway? Let us know in the comments!