NASCAR suspends Chase Elliott for wrecking Denny Hamlin in Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR has suspended Cup Series star Chase Elliott for dumping Denny Hamlin into the wall during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Monday.
Elliott, who missed six races earlier this season recovering from a leg injury, will miss a seventh — the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway this Sunday. Though he sits 29th in the points standings, Elliott will need to request a waiver to remain eligible for the playoffs.
The crash occurred on the front stretch after Elliott made contact with the wall coming out of Turn 4 with Hamlin beside him. Elliott appeared to take exception with being squeezed against the wall by Hamlin, and responded by deliberately hooking him. At least, that was Hamlin’s side of the story after being checked out of the infield care center.
“I got right rear hooked in the middle of a straightaway,” Hamlin said. “Yeah, it’s a tantrum and he shouldn’t be racing next week. Right rear hooks are absolutely unacceptable. I don’t care, it’s the same thing Bubba Wallace did with Kyle Larson. The exact same. He shouldn’t be racing.”
NASCAR officials came to the same conclusion Tuesday that Hamlin did — that Elliott intentionally wrecked him to cause the Lap 186 accident despite the 2020 Cup Series champion denying so while speaking with Fox Sports after the accident.
“The 11 ran us up in the fence there… Once you turn the right sides off these things it’s kind of over,” Elliott said. “I hate it, I thought our NAPA Chevy was getting better… No [there was no retaliation], like I said, once you hit the wall in these things you can’t drive them anymore. So, unfortunately not, no just an unfortunate circumstance.”
Hendrick Motorsports comments on Chase Elliott suspension
Hendrick Motorsports released a statement shortly after NASCAR announced Elliott’s suspension.
“We understand NASCAR’s need to maintain consistency in its officiating,” the team said, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “The penalty will not be appealed, and we will submit a formal request for a playoff waiver.”
Hendrick Motorsports added that Corey LaJoie will replace Elliott in the Enjoy Illinois 300. LaJoie, who mans the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, sits 20th in the points standings having notched one top-five and one top-ten this season. Carson Hocevar will fill in for LaJoie in the Cup Series car for Spire. Hocevar has driven for Spire in the Xfinity Series and is a full-time driver in the truck series.