NASCAR Cup Series: Thanksgiving-themed playoff awards

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AVONDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 12: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Hooters Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway on November 12, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Thanksgiving Award #1 – The Fighting Relatives Award

I think everyone has seen it before — if not, your family is less dysfunctional than mine and I congratulate you. The dinner table is set, family is gathering around. Uncle Steve is sitting at one end of the table, which means they put Uncle Tim at the other end because the two flat-out just don’t get along. This years winners of the “Fighting Relatives Award” are Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott.

Before Martinsville, the 2017 NASCAR season didn’t really have any good quarrels or drivers not getting along. However, Denny Hamlin spun Chase Elliott late in Martinsville, which all but ended Elliott’s playoff chances in the long run. Two weeks later at Phoenix, Elliott paid Hamlin back by racing him hard and forcing him up the race track. This move caused Hamlin’s tire to go flat and Hamlin to crash into the wall.

Therefore, Elliott and Hamlin are just like the family members who need to be kept out of the same room as much as possible at Thanksgiving. There is no telling when and if their feud will end, but we all appreciated the fireworks between the two as they happened. Needless to say, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the family members fighting — just like it wouldn’t be NASCAR without a little driver scuffle.

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