Rain and more rain pushed Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 into Monday, and, boy, what a 600-mile show it was.
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Plenty of drivers leave the longest race of the year thankful they made it the distance. Ryan Blaney was clearly the most thankful this year, as the Team Penske driver held off William Byron to snap his 59-race winless streak.
But, before that, there was a major incident on Stage 2 involving Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott that got everybody talking.
A big hit for Denny Hamlin. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Ss1FEqGYiJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 29, 2023
The collision between Chase Elliott's No. 9 and Denny Hamlin's No. 11 saw Elliott bounce off the wall before coming down into the right rear of Hamlin and crashing hard into the wall. Many thought the collision was payback for Hamlin forcing Elliott into the wall mere seconds before. Hamlin himself viewed it as a retaliatory move, and during his post-crash interview with Fox Sports Josh Sims after being released from the care center, he made a bold claim regarding how Elliott should be punished for the incident.
"It's a tantrum and [Chase Elliott] shouldn't be racing next week."- Denny Hamlin pic.twitter.com/y8xARpdU5O
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 29, 2023
"I got right-rear hooked in the middle of the straightaway," Hamlin said. "It's a tantrum and he shouldn't be racing next week. Right-rear hooks are absolutely unacceptable."
Hamlin then compared Elliott's maneuver to the Bubba Wallace-Kyle Larson incident last fall at Las Vegas, which resulted in a one-race suspension for Wallace.
"It is the same thing that Bubba Wallace did with Kyle Larson. Exact same," Hamlin said. "He shouldn't be racing. It's a tantrum."
In a later interview, Elliott described the incident as "just unfortunate," making it clear that he in no way attempted to retaliate against Denny.
Chase Elliott on what happened. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/OfxqSqdCaX
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 29, 2023
NASCAR has indicated that the incident will be reviewed.
Hamlin didn't stop with his post-race interview, as he later took to Twitter to try and further push his anti-Elliott narrative.
Removing all doubt. His steering came back to the exact same position it had previously after we came off the wall.
The higher the line on steering the further LEFT it’s going. pic.twitter.com/DKo7mrLz28— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) May 29, 2023
We will have to wait and see what happens to Elliott in the coming days. Since NASCAR set a precedent with the one-race suspension of Bubba last year, it's likely something similar will happen to Elliott. Time will tell. But, whatever happens, it looks like we might have another major feud on our hands.
