Home

NASCAR

NASCAR Fans React as Wrong Crew Member From Denny Hamlin’s Team Penalized After Dover Incident

Published 05/04/2022, 4:55 AM EDT

Follow Us

USA Today via Reuters

Perhaps the notebook in which NASCAR recorded the loose wheel incident of Denny Hamlin and his #11 team was washed up in the rain during the Dover race. Because only that could explain the unfair penalty, or at least at this point, an inexplicable penalty that has been handed to the JGR #11 team.

Journalist Bob Pockrass recently reported how NASCAR has suspended Blake Houston. He was supposed to be the front tire changer when the tire changer in charge of the tire that fell off was Mike Hicks.

“NASCAR says it is suspending who is listed as front changer in this situation on 11 car,” Pockrass tweeted.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

This led to several NASCAR fans questioning the penalty. While some blasted NASCAR for the unfair treatment, some questioned the very foundation of the penalty system. They asked for a reconsideration of the same.

Dover brought no fruits for Denny Hamlin and co.

Denny Hamlin, who has been struggling to find and latch on to momentum ever since his win at Richmond, had a sliver of hope in Dover. But the Dover race, which stretched for two days technically, ended up being quite crushing for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and his team.

Yes, there’s the loose wheel that has earned the #11 team a massive penalty. But there was also the wreck that split open his FedEx Camry from the side.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“I just can’t believe this, man,” Hamlin was heard telling his team during the Stage 2 break while his team fixed his car.

via Getty

“A lug nut came out of the gun, and we did not know it until it was too late, obviously,” Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gabehart, explained over the radio. But what the crew chief said next could aptly summarize their race, the penalty, and perhaps their entire season so far.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“It is what it is,” he said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Shaharyar Khan Chauhan

1,896Articles

One take at a time

Shaharyar is an F1 & NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Journalism from Amity University, he has been a passionate follower of motorsports for a better part of the decade. A Max Verstappen and Ferrari supporter, he dreams of a pairing of the two in future.
Show More>

Edited by:

Arunaditya Aima