NASCAR: Denny Hamlin talks about collision with Chase Elliott

By Asher Fair | Nov 12, 2017

AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 12: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, drives after a tire issue during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 12, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Denny Hamlin offered up his thoughts after wrecking out of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix following his contact with Chase Elliott.

At Martinsville Speedway two weeks ago, Chase Elliott was on the verge on winning his first career NASCAR Cup Series race, and in doing so, clinching a spot in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. There were just two laps to go, and he was in the lead.

But Denny Hamlin, who was in 2nd place at the time, had other plans. Instead of racing Elliott for the position, Hamlin spun him into the wall, ruining his race and ultimately preventing him from advancing to the Championship 4. Hamlin didn’t even end up winning the race, as he was involved in a wreck on the final lap and finished in 7th.

After that wreck, fans did not wonder if Elliott would get revenge on Hamlin for that wreck. They wondered when that revenge would happen. It did not happen last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, as Elliott finished in 8th place with Hamlin up in 3rd. Everyone minded their own business throughout the AAA Texas 500.

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But late in the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Elliott and Hamlin were battling hard, and Elliott shoved him into the wall. Although the move was much more subtle than Hamlin’s move on Elliott two weeks ago, it still affected Hamlin in a big way.

Hamlin immediately started losing positions on the race track, although he did seem to regain his pace within a few laps. However, just a few seconds later, he had a tire go down as a result of the collision, and he ended up hitting the wall with his championship hopes crushed after dominating the race.

Here are Hamlin’s comments about how Elliott raced him.

"“Each person had their own opinion of how they do things, and it just proved to the people that thought I was a bad guy that he would do the exact same thing in the same circumstances, so, I mean, you know, it’s just part of racing. I got into him and he chose to retaliate, so I’m in the garage and that’s the way it is.”"

Next: NASCAR Playoffs: Pros and Cons

Is the Chase Elliott vs. Denny Hamlin debacle officially over now that both drivers have ruined the other’s race at some point during the Round of 8, or will it continue into the Championship 4 in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida next Sunday, November 19th? Tune in to NBC at 3:00 PM ET on that day to find out.