Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

NASCAR releases penalty report after Bristol, punishes Denny Hamlin No. 11 team

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones3 hours agobrianjones_93
Denny Hamlin NASCAR Gateway win
Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

NASCAR has officially punished Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 team after the car lost a wheel during the Bristol race on Saturday night. On Tuesday, NASCAR released its penalty report, which said crew members Austin Maloney and Joel Bouagnon have been suspended from the next two NASCAR Cup Series races.

Denny Hamlin knew suspensions were coming for his team due to NASCAR rules. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin talked about the possibility of losing two crew members for the next two races.

“It’s super unfortunate because we were the only guys on pit road during that time,” Hamlin explained. “There was no indication, no heads up or anything. If it was loose leading the pit stall, but I’m not sure. I don’t have an answer of how or why, but more than likely.”

The crew members will miss the New Hampshire race on Sunday and the Kansas race next week. They will return for the Charlotte Roval race on Oct. 5, which is the final race in the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Denny Hamlin explains how he lost a wheel at Bristol

On the podcast, Hamlin also explained how his No. 11 Toyota lost a wheel. “All I know is I went into Turn 3, I felt something kind of weird off of Turn 2 where I felt like I turned the wheel, and the thing was hanging,” he said. “I was like, ‘What the hell? Am I having another major tight moment?’ …It was only a couple of laps into that run. I just went in Turn 3, the car went straight, wiped out AJ [Allmendinger]. I don’t know who else got in it, but then I was riding on three tires.”

The lost wheel led to Hamlin finishing 31st at Bristol. It didn’t matter where Hamlin finished since he clinched a spot in the Round of 12 of the playoffs after winning at Gateway last week. It’s been a strong year for 44-year-old, who is looking to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship for the first time in his career. He leads all Cup Series drivers with five victories and is on top of the playoff standings with 26 points above the cut line.