Denny Hamlin weighs in on ‘rigged’ NASCAR theory – Sports News
Denny Hamlin addressed rumors that NASCAR officers rigged the Cook Out 400 to help Chase Elliott (Image: Actions Detrimental)
Denny Hamlin weighed in on recommendations that NASCAR officers “rigged” the Cook Out 400 in favor of Chase Elliott.
On Sunday, Elliott — who had an instantaneous realization after doing one thing uncommon — secured his first win of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville Speedway. The Hendrick Motorsports driver claimed a late lead during the ultimate stage following a warning period and narrowly fended off a number of challenges from Hamlin in the closing laps.
Shortly earlier than Elliott coasted down victory lane, Ryan Blaney raised eyebrows upon expressing his frustration with NASCAR prime brass over the group radio. Once the No. 12 Ford driver was knowledgeable by his crew chief that a warning was issued resulting from a brake rotor on pit highway, he sarcastically replied: “They threw a caution for a brake rotor on pit road? That’s hilarious.”
Elliott, in the meantime, benefited vastly from a yellow flag being waved, because the 30-year-old took the lead from Ross Chastain following a restart en path to main the ultimate 69 laps. Earlier on in the race, crew chief Alan Gustafson took a main gamble by opting to pit the No. 9 Chevrolet earlier than most of the opposite drivers operating on the entrance of the sector.
On the most recent episode of the ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast, Hamlin offered his two cents on the divisive warning that drew the ire of Blaney. “I’m not saying there wasn’t debris, because I’m uninformed here on Monday,” he defined.
Chase Elliott secured his first win of the 2026 Cup Series season at Martinsville (Image: Getty)
“But there was a broken brake rotor on pit lane, it more than likely happened on the race track so you would think it’s on the race track somewhere. But typically you find it first, see it, is it in the groove? And then you make the call.”
According to Hamlin, Cup Series officers change how they oversee occasions based mostly on how every of them play out. “If there were many cautions through that race, you probably let that go,” he added.
“I’m telling you, that’s just human nature no matter who’s pressing the button up there. Races that are going long, lots of cautions, they’re gonna be more lenient to let it go in the end.
“Ones that don’t have a whole lot of cautions, it’s if we can get a break, let’s get a break. That’s just how it’s always been. It’s better than it used to be, for sure. I’m not delegitimizing this yellow, but I just know.
“When we think about race strategy, I always tell my team, ‘Pay attention to how the race is going. If the race is littered with cautions, by the end of the race they’re gonna be sick of throwing cautions because they’re gonna be up against the TV window.
“They’re probably not gonna throw a caution for someone scraping the wall. If this thing goes green like a motherf—— and … someone scrapes the wall, they’re throwing a yellow. That’s the way it goes, so be aware of that when you’re doing your strategy.”
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