NASCAR VP of Competition Elton Sawyer speaks out about Chase Elliott's punishment
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, has explained what went into the decision to suspend Cup Series star Chase Elliott for this Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Sawyer told SiriusXM NASCAR Tuesday they determined Elliott intentionally dumped Denny Hamlin into the wall during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Monday.
“It was an intentional act by Chase in our opinion in our view after reviewing all of the available resources,” Sawyer said, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports.
Sawyer added that Elliott put both Hamlin and himself, as well as other drivers in harm’s way by turning Hamlin into the wall on Lap 186. 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.”
Chase Elliott in need of a waiver to remain eligible for NASCAR playoffs
NASCAR officials came to the same conclusion Tuesday that Hamlin did — that Elliott intentionally wrecked him to cause the 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.”
Elliott, who missed six races earlier this season recovering from a broken leg, will miss a seventh. He will need to request a waiver to remain eligible for the playoffs. Elliott currently sits 29th in the points standings. 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.