NASCAR Cup race at Circuit of the Americas Cars pack into turn one during the NASCAR EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, Mar. 26, 2023 in Austin. Nascar2
By Arthur Weinstein on

Denny Hamlin has a message for NASCAR: Drivers “can’t be trusted” to behave on late-race restarts, and the sanctioning body needs to do something.

The veteran driver shared his thoughts Monday on his Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin podcast, where he talked about the finish of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup road-course race at Circuit of the Americas.

Tyler Reddick won the event in triple overtime, but the extra periods became a demolition derby fueled by aggressive driving.

Some blamed the COTA track’s configuration for encouraging the aggressive driving. Others blamed the durability of NASCAR’s new car with giving drivers extra confidence in driving hard to the checkered flag.

But Hamlin said Monday the solution to the problem rests with NASCAR.

“More than likely if you’re listening to this, your driver probably got spun or wrecked at the end of that race and you’re probably tired of it as well,” said Hamlin, who finished 16th. “I just think taking an hour to run the last few laps is ridiculous.

“How can we avoid it? You have to help the drivers help themselves, and that’s by spreading us out a little bit.”

That would mean NASCAR mandating single-file restarts in late-race situations, certainly at road-course events. It’s not as exciting, certainly, but it would reduce the level of mayhem.

Hamlin wasn’t the only driver upset with Sunday’s demolition derby. Alex Bowman, who finished third, said the level of racing at the end was “embarrassing.”

“If 12-year-olds were doing that, we’d be yelling at them,” Bowman said.

[Dirty Mo Media]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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