Denny Hamlin loses 25 points, $50k over Phoenix incident
NASCAR levied Denny Hamlin a 25-point penalty and a $50,000 fine for an incident with Ross Chastain at Phoenix Raceway.
On his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin openly admitted to putting Chastain in the wall. He said he knew he was going to lose positions with a tight racecar and said, “he’s coming with me,” when he saw Chastain to the outside of him.
Entering turn one, with two laps to go in overtime, Hamlin slammed into Chastain and put him into the wall. Chastain drove away, then brake-checked Hamlin, who bumped Hamlin back.
Hamlin passed Chastain, then finished 23rd while Chastain finished 24th.
NASCAR penalized Hamlin for Sections 4.4B and D of the member code of conduct. The codes specify an attempt to “manipulate the outcome of the race or championship” or “wreck or spin another vehicle” intentionally are actions “detrimental to stock racing or NASCAR”.
The penalty puts Hamlin 12th in the regular-season points, 51 points behind points leader Kevin Harvick.
