Denny Hamlin, the seasoned Joe Gibbs Racing veteran, didn’t hold back as he dissected the chaos of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Talladega. The historic 28-car pileup left the race—and the playoff hopes of several drivers—in tatters. In his recent podcast, Hamlin assessed the incident, pointing fingers at specific drivers and their teams, offering a detailed breakdown of how the wreck unfolded.
The Push That Sparked the Carnage
The pivotal moment of the race, according to Hamlin, was an overly aggressive push on the RFK No. 6 Ford, driven by Brad Keselowski, from the No. 21 and No. 22 Fords, piloted by Harrison Burton and Joey Logano, respectively. Hamlin explained that Burton and Logano’s relentless push on Keselowski caused the RFK car to make contact with Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Penske Ford, igniting the chaos that ensued.
“It just felt like to me as someone that does this that the 21 (Harrison Burton) and 22 (Joey Logano) just kept pushing the 6 (Brad Keselowski) and didn’t get off of him,” Hamlin stated. “Obviously, the 6 is coming to the 2 (Austin Cindric) car with such a run.”
Keselowski Tried to Save It, But It Was Too Late
Hamlin pointed out that Keselowski, a former Cup champion, tried to avoid disaster by lifting off the throttle and braking slightly to slow the pack down. However, despite his efforts, the aggressive push from behind left him with no chance to control the situation. Hamlin noted that even the drivers who initiated the crash—Logano and Burton—ultimately got caught up in the wreck they helped create.
“I think Brad tweeted it, ‘Listen, I’m trying to lift.’ He didn’t lift a lot, by the way, but he did lift some and he did hit some brake to try to slow down the run. He just got shoved into a wreck, and unfortunately for those guys that kind of probably initially caused it, which is the 22 and the 21, they got bit by the actions they started,” Hamlin remarked.
Spotter Blunders: A Crucial Factor
Hamlin didn’t stop at criticizing the drivers alone; he also called out the spotters of the No. 21 and 22 teams. He emphasized that the spotters should have advised their drivers to back off and avoid pushing too hard, recognizing the rapidly closing gap ahead. In Hamlin’s view, the incident was entirely avoidable if better communication and patience were exercised by the teams.
“This is on the spotters of the 21 and 22 to say that while you’re shoving the 6, yes, you got two car lengths ahead, but you have to plan that gap is going to close really quickly. You’ve got to get off the guy, and they didn’t, and it caused a wreck,” Hamlin explained.
Playoff Implications and Hamlin’s Final Take
Hamlin’s analysis underscores the importance of communication and restraint in a high-stakes race like Talladega, especially with the playoffs on the line. With only one more race left in the Round of 12, the impact of this wreck could be significant, potentially altering the championship landscape as drivers scramble to recover lost ground.
Hamlin’s breakdown of the incident highlights a broader issue in superspeedway racing—overaggressive driving and inadequate spotter guidance can quickly lead to catastrophic outcomes. As NASCAR officials and teams review the race, Hamlin’s insights might be a focal point for discussions on how to avoid such massive wrecks in the future.
With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the aftermath of the Talladega crash will be closely watched as teams and drivers gear up for the final push to secure their spots in the next round.
