NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin finished 15th in Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, caused by a speeding penalty that kept him a lap down for the majority of the race. Upon learning that he was seemingly kept a lap down intentionally by Noah Gragson, it appears the No. 11 car will get some payback.
On Monday’s episode of Actions Detrimental, Hamlin was informed that it was overheard on the radio that it was intentionally done, with radio communication from the No. 4 team indicating that staying out would keep Hamlin and other drivers a lap down.
“Really? This is the same Front Row team that I let back on the lead lap last week?…Really? Ok. Well, when it comes back around, when I go to lap Noah at one of these races, I’ll make sure I have no mercy then.”
Denny Hamlin’s reaction to Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team intentionally keeping him a lap down at Dega
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Just a week prior, Hamlin had one of the most dominant cars at Kansas Speedway and led 131 laps on the day. As he noted on his podcast the following day, he raced with a bit of grace in helping Todd Gilliland avoid falling a lap down. One week later, he didn’t receive that same courtesy from FRM.
Hamlin noted that he didn’t think that was Gragson’s decision; it was instead the crew chief’s call. Coincidentally, Gragson appeared on Monday’s episode of Door Bumper Clear and certainly seemed to imply that he was the one behind the strategy.
“Guess what? I’d do it again…My team didn’t know the rule and I’m like, yeah, if we pit, then we can trap those guys a lap down still and then it gives us a one-lap buffer if we wreck at the end of the race.”
Noah Gragson on staying out to keep Denny Hamlin a lap down at Talladega Superspeedway
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There should be plenty of opportunities for Hamlin to get his payback on the No. 4 team. Through 10 races this season, Gragson has finished on the lead lap in just four races. So the chance at getting Gragson back for that could come within these next few races.
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In Gragson’s defense, the circumstances with the car and the rules at Talladega positioned him and the No. 4 team to make that strategy call. It evidently worked for them on Sunday, as evidenced by a season-best finish in ninth place, but Hamlin will clearly be keeping it in mind for the remainder of the races.
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