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NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Practice and Qualifying Mar 4, 2023 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 11 during qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Las Vegas Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20230304_gav_sv5_033

via Imago
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Practice and Qualifying Mar 4, 2023 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 11 during qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Las Vegas Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20230304_gav_sv5_033
Quaker State 400 was indeed an intense race with drivers going balls to the walls from the start. Even the NBC announcers had to agree that the Stage 1 finish was more like a race finish, with the top dozen drivers fighting tooth and nail for positions. As the rains approached closer to the Atlanta track, the pace got even more aggressive as drivers speculated an early stoppage. Reacting to the rain-shortened race, NASCAR veteran and Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Denny Hamlin, detailed how the frantic pace left cars “all over the place,” battling for position.
While the weather playing spoilsport, shortening the race by 75 laps, Hamlin revealed how “unstable” things were with drivers going all out, trying to make the best out of the race. After an intense couple of hours at the track, Hamlin got into another episode with his on-track rival, Alex Bowman when Bowman nudged the #11 Toyota’s rear left causing Hamlin to spin off the track.
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Hamlin reveals the struggles of racing on a superspeedway-like track with a fierce pack and a hostile weather
Reacting to Sunday’s race at the iconic Atlanta Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin rolled out yet another fascinating episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast to give the community an insider’s insight into chaotic rain-threatened action in Atlanta.
While the imminent threat of the weather gave the fans an exhilarating race, the threat of a stoppage meant pedal to the metal for drivers as they went all out, even adapting the old school 3 wide passes on the high-banking, tight lanes of the renovated speedway. Though, this gave the community a thrilling, action-packed race, drivers including Hamlin had to adapt to the damp conditions of the track cautiously.
With the pack consistently taking things to the edge, Hamlin vividly recalls the treacherous conditions. He said, “I mean you could just see everyone’s car was on complete edge, we were all over the place and you couldn’t, we didn’t really run too wide that much just because the cars were so unstable by themselves, you know, in the pack.”
Furthermore, he mentioned how things developed more into the race, the surface becoming grippier and the tires sticking to the tarmac. “But as it cooled off and as the track started to lay rubber it started to get more grippy. And the more grippier it got, the more we were able to be aggressive, running side by side, 2 and 3 wide. So it stinks because the race, like I said, it was just starting to get hot, starting to get good,” said the 42-year-old driver.
While the race itself was entertaining, the community also witnessed another incident involving Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin.
WATCH THIS STORY: NASCAR fans demand Denny Hamlin’s suspension after bitter Alex Bowman comments
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Here We Go Again! Alex Bowman spins Denny Hamlin for a ride off the track
For the second consecutive week, a Cup Series race has been jolted by the extremities of weather. While the organization’s inaugural race in Chicago was delayed by 90 minutes and reduced by 25 laps due to severe weather, the race at Atlanta also had a similar situation when the rain gods shortened the race by 75 laps.
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For the second consecutive week, Bowman and Hamlin made contact. As the second stage was coming to the final few laps, drivers were consistently looking for openings. Bowman and Hamlin got into each again after the #48 car got loose and nudged the #11 Camry’s rear causing both the cars to spin right off the track. While Bowman’s Chevy had front-end damage and slashed tires, Hamlin on the other hand handled the spin exceptionally well to recover and continue the race.
HAMLIN GETS SPUN BY BOWMAN!
The No. 48 gets loose and takes out the No. 11 with 6 laps to go in Stage 2. A reversal of last week in Chicago.
This caution may end this stage.#NASCAR #QuakerState400 pic.twitter.com/p38TGnXUkO
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) July 10, 2023
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With the late caution coming out, Hamlin dropped further down the ladder to finish the race 14th, just behind the Georgia native, Chase Elliott. His was the only Toyota in the top 15. Now as the outspoken veteran opens up about the mayhem on the track, fans get a vivid picture of the chaotic conditions in Atlanta.
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