In the matter of 25 laps, the entire complexion of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway has totally been flipped upside down, and it all started with a crash for Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin, who was locked in an intense battle for third place with Ryan Blaney, had finally just cleared the No. 12 Ford Mustang heading into the first corner, when it appeared that something in his steering broke.
As a result, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver went straight in the middle of the corner, slamming the outside wall with the No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry TRD, drawing the caution flag, and ending the Chesterfield, Virginia native’s day.
Denny Hamlin HITS THE WALL!#NASCARPlayoffs | NBC pic.twitter.com/HQSN5LbBb5
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 22, 2023
Entering Sunday’s 400-mile contest, Hamlin was just two points above the cutline, over teammate Christopher Bell – and tied with his other teammate Martin Truex, Jr. – and will now head to the elimination race below the cutline, more than likely.
Barring any sort of issues in post-race inspection, Hamlin will be credited with a finish of 30th, which will hurt his efforts to advance to the Final Four in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
