Is right-hooking a fellow driver fair in any circumstance? It seems that owing to the repercussions, it might not be. So that shouldn’t even be a question. However, despite the scary consequences the action might have, right-hooking is not exactly a rare spectacle on the NASCAR race tracks. On Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott hit the right rear end of Denny Hamlin’s #11 car.
During the Coca-Cola-600, Hamlin and Elliott were racing side by side when the Joe Gibbs Racing driver squeezed Elliott and pushed him toward the outside wall. However, unharmed by the hit to the wall, Elliott, who initially seemed in control of his vehicle, veered towards Hamlin, spinning him out and crashing him into the outside wall.
Denny Hamlin Compares Chase Elliott With Bubba Wallace
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When Denny Hamlin made contact with Chase Elliott, he immediately speculated on the radio that this might be an intentional retaliation by the HMS driver. Although Eliott denied that he purposely wrecked Hamlin, many refused to believe Elliott’s explanations.
Comparing his actions with his 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace who was penalized for a similar accusation last season, Hamlin said that Elliott should not be allowed to race. In a post-race interview with FOX, Hamlin, the co-owner of 23XI Racing said,
“I got right-rear hooked in the middle of the straightaway. It’s a tantrum, and he shouldn’t be racing next week. Right rear hooks are absolutely unacceptable. I don’t care. It is the same thing that Bubba Wallace did with Kyle Larson, exact same.”
“He shouldn’t be racing. It’s a tantrum. “
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After the fuming post-race interview by Denny Hamlin, several people demanded NASCAR take action against Chase Elliott. And sharing his views on the incident with NASCAR enthusiasts, FOX reporter Bob Pockrass tweeted,
“There were some slight differences between the Elliott-Hamlin wreck and the Wallace-Larson wreck but if NASCAR feels Chase Elliott wrecked Hamlin on purpose and therefore suspends Chase Elliott, it would be justifiable.”
Fast Thoughts: There were some slight differences between the Elliott-Hamlin wreck and the Wallace-Larson wreck but if NASCAR feels Chase Elliott wrecked Hamlin on purpose and therefore suspends Chase Elliott, it would be justifiable. pic.twitter.com/JIeineHLih
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 30, 2023
He also wrote, “I think it’s possible Chase Elliott gets suspended but I don’t have a gauge yet on whether he will.”
I think it's possible Chase Elliott gets suspended but I don't have a gauge yet on whether he will. These are my thoughts: https://t.co/FANN8YnSid https://t.co/UdX1cEwoV4
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 30, 2023
However, this did not sit well with Elliott fans, who began defending their favorite HMS driver. One Elliott enthusiast wrote, “Why? He said it wouldn’t turn after he hit the wall at speed? I can’t imagine having control after that at those speeds. Slower speed maybe like him coming in to pit.”
“For what? Because he wouldn’t let Hamlin punk him and now Hamlin is crying about it.”
Whereas another one tweeted, “Suspended for being pushed up against the wall by Hamlin and being bumped from behind by Keselowski, causing the 9 to veer left? I think it’s more possible your pit pass gets revoked. #CocaCola600”
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Is there something the replay didn’t show? Seemed obvious to me that the car was out of control after hitting the wall then the 6 hit him. It hardly looked like a intentional wreck
— James (@originaljamesjr) May 30, 2023
“Why? He said it wouldn’t turn after he hit the wall at speed? I can’t imagine having control after that at those speeds. Slower speed maybe like him coming in to pit.”
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Furthermore, some others shifted the blame on Hamlin for pushing the #9 into the wall and claim that Brad Keselowski hit Elliott’s rare that in turn forced him to veer into the #11. Since NASCAR has not issued any statement about the matter, it remains to be seen if Elliott will be penalized for the incident at Charlotte. Who do you think was at fault? Let us know in the comments below.