Denny Hamlin reacts to controversial NASCAR caution decision at Darlington

One of the more controversial moments during Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway came midway through Stage 2. Brad Keselowski spun out on his own and NASCAR did not immediately throw the caution.

Keselowski saved it and avoided contact. But the issue was that a lug nut came flying off one of his wheels. NASCAR was forced to throw the caution for debris at a time where green flag pit stops were taking place. This changed the race for many teams — some for better, some for worse. But NASCAR had to throw the caution, Denny Hamlin said on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast.

“That was right in the middle of a pit sequence which that’s essentially what flipped the field upside down. It went from where I was running in the teens to now, I’m in the top five,” Hamlin said. “I was surprised they didn’t throw the caution when he spun out. Usually, a spin out has always been a caution at Darlington.

“The sensitivity of it was NASCAR was trying not to get involved in throwing an ill-timed caution that was gonna turn the field upside down, but they couldn’t ignore the lug nut that was on the track. If you run over that, not only is it gonna damage someone’s car, that thing could get kicked up anywhere.”

Erik Jones fumes at NASCAR on radio over questionable debris caution at Darlington

Hamlin benefitted from the timing of the caution; Erik Jones did not. Jones got caught entering pit road when it became closed. He was running third during the pit cycle and wound up finishing 17th. Jones was irate with NASCAR for throwing the caution when they did.

“WHAT THE F***, NASCAR, ARE WE F***ING DOING? … A car wrecked and we don’t throw it… limping around and now there’s nothing out here,” Jones said over his radio.

Everything worked out for Hamlin in the end. He found himself at the front late in the race and his pit crew put him in first for the overtime restart. Hamlin won his second consecutive race and the 56th of his Cup Series career.