Last week’s Xfinity elimination race at Martinsville Speedway concluded with high drama. Richard Childress Racing teammates, Austin Hill and Sheldon Creed, engaged in a dramatic last-lap clash. Eventually, the battle between the teammates resulted in a massive wreck that shook up the field. The incident ultimately denied both drivers a chance to compete in the Championship 4. In the wake of the dramatic events, Denny Hamlin, driver of Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owner of 23XI Racing, has exposed what he perceives as a toxic environment within the RCR team.

As the final lap of the Xfinity Series race unfolded during the overtime finish, Austin Hill was in a position to advance to the championship race, while Sheldon Creed needed a win to secure his spot. The teammates raced side-by-side on the backstretch, banging into each other multiple times. Creed surged ahead in Turn 3, but he struggled through Turn 4. Hill, right on his tail, collided with Creed and got into the wall.

Denny Hamlin revisits Kevin Harvick and Tyler Reddick’s split to expose the bitter behavior of RCR

Justin Allgaier capitalized on the ensuing chaos and edged past Creed at the finish line, securing his place in the Championship 4. Hill, who was initially in contention for the win, had his hopes shattered. He ended up finishing in 21st place. This incident meant that neither of the RCR drivers qualified for the coveted spot in the Championship 4.

A stern and unfiltered reaction from Richard Childress Racing boss marked the aftermath of this intense race. Childress made no effort to conceal his emotions when he labeled Sheldon Creed as “the stupidest driver” he had worked with. Speaking to NBC Sports after the race, Childress did not hold back, stating, “You don’t do that as a team player. What else do you want me to tell you?” When queried about Creed’s participation in the upcoming season finale at Phoenix, Childress did not provide a definitive response.

Denny Hamlin, in a recent episode of his podcast, delved into the incident and offered a broader perspective on RCR’s handling of such situations. He recalled past instances when drivers like Kevin Harvick and Tyler Reddick decided to part ways with RCR. Hamlin highlighted the noticeable bitterness that seemed to accompany such splits, suggesting that RCR had a propensity to become resentful when drivers opted to leave the team (just like Sheldon Creed is leaving at the end of this year).

Hamlin commented, “This is a bad look for RCR. They clearly get bitter, very quickly.“ He pondered on whether RCR thinks through its public relations strategy, saying, “I don’t know how PR works there. But I am thinking they say, ‘Tell me what you want me to write down.’ I don’t know if it’s strategically thought through or anything like that.”

Drawing on his own experience with Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin pointed out that RCR’s unique close-knit community might play a role in their reactions to driver departures. “But I mean, we’ve seen it in the past, right?” Hamlin added. “When Harvick.. he announced he was leaving. It was not good, they did not appreciate it. I don’t know, I would say RCR probably is the biggest family-feeling organization you could possibly go to. And this is coming from someone that races for Gibbs. Because they’re isolated kinda on their own island up there… They just feel like you’re part of it up here and you should stick it out with us.”

Expressing his respect for RCR and Richard Childress, Hamlin acknowledged that the aftermath of this incident was not a good look for the organization. He hoped that the tension would ease in the coming week. He also thinks Sheldon Creed should have the opportunity to complete the job they hired him for.

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While both RCR drivers failed to make it to the playoffs, so did Hamlin. He failed to outscore William Byron at Martinsville and got eliminated.

NASCAR Insider claims Hamlin is not to blame for his elimination

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As the NASCAR Cup Series season winds down, the heartbreak of falling short in the championship battle weighs heavily on drivers’ minds. For Denny Hamlin, despite a commendable career spanning nearly two decades and boasting 51 race victories. The coveted Cup Series championship remains just out of reach. However, one NASCAR insider believes that Hamlin should not shoulder the blame for his recent championship loss.

Throughout the season, Hamlin had an impressive run, amassing points and showcasing his consistency. But in the end, the points system worked against him, and he was eliminated from contention for the title-deciding race at Phoenix. Former NASCAR driver turned analyst, Jeff Burton, offered insights on Hamlin’s performance. He spoke about the factors that may have contributed to his championship aspirations slipping away.

“Obviously, you could have won. You could have got yourself in by winning a race. They did not have, in my eyes, they did not have a car good enough to win the race,” Burton stated during an episode of the Motorsports on NBC Podcast. “They did have a very good car, but not as good as Blaney,” Burton acknowledged.

Burton then pointed out a crucial factor that influenced Hamlin’s championship chances. A mechanical issue that struck Hamlin at Homestead Miami Speedway. This issue, according to Burton, was likely beyond Hamlin’s control. And it could have been a problem that the team didn’t anticipate or had no say in either. “That’s probably… that is maybe something they had nothing to do with. It could have been something that the team didn’t actually make a decision about. That’s hard to take,” Burton concluded.

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As Hamlin reflects on another season without a Cup Series championship, he can take solace in the insights offered by seasoned NASCAR experts like Jeff Burton. While the road to a championship remains elusive, the journey, with its ups and downs, continues to define Hamlin’s remarkable career.