Denny Hamlin’s support of NASCAR’s decision to throw caution at Atlanta but not at Daytona has seemingly backfired him in the form of a backlash from the fans. Aficionados of the sport were already disenchanted with what they perceived as inconsistent officiating on NASCAR’s end, and Hamlin’s approval of these actions has thrust him into the hot seat as well.
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In the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin argued, “I can assure you there’s not a driver in the field who would want that race to stay green, given the scenarios that were going on. … The race had to end under caution. Let’s at least applaud them on making the right call for safety, because safety should always be number one and entertainment should be number two.”
Contrastingly, during the Daytona 500, despite a big crash in the race’s closing stages, the event concluded under green conditions. Then, at Atlanta, during the Xfinity race on Saturday also, officials chose not to intervene with caution, allowing the race to play out to the finish in green.
However, the scenario shifted during the Ambetter Health 400 race at Atlanta when a caution was displayed, sealing the win for Christopher Bell, who was leading at the time the yellow flag was waved.
While Bell’s victory in Atlanta was not disputed by fans due to his consistent ability to win, the inconsistency in NASCAR’s decisions and Hamlin’s support garnered a barrage of reactions.
One fan expressed skepticism about Hamlin’s comments, remarking, “Denny says this when a JGR teammate wins the race. Had it been the other way around he would have a different view.”
Echoing similar sentiments, another fan pointed out, “Hamlin would be whistling a different tune had his teammate not won the race.”
A NASCAR enthusiast criticized the rationale behind the decision, noting, “If safety was a number one priority and entertainment was number two, we wouldn’t go to Daytona, Talladega, or Atlanta. The safety improvements of that caution were negligible, and the legitimacy of the outcome was totally lost.”
Another critic took a sharper tone, challenging Hamlin‘s stance on safety: “Denny then tell your sanctioning body to stop using your crashes to promote races at Daytona and Talladega while standing on their podiums preaching safety.”
Bell’s crew chief defends NASCAR’s decision
When Adam Stevens, crew chief for Christopher Bell since 2021, was asked to give his views on NASCAR’s controversial decision-making, he acknowledged that while he does not control the caution button, he trusts that the officials strive to perform their duties as effectively as possible.
He defended NASCAR’s actions by spotlighting the challenges they face, noting that it’s not an easy job, and NASCAR is trying to give the fans a checkered flag finish, but they don’t want to put anybody in danger either.
Stevens also pointed out the complexities involved in making split-second decisions, emphasizing that NASCAR officials do the best they can under the compact circumstances. Nevertheless, the inconsistency in these decisions has contributed significantly to the backlash they face.
To bridge the gap between NASCAR’s decisions and fan understanding, the organization has launched its own podcast, ‘Hauler Talk,’ which aims to clarify controversial decisions made during races. Perhaps, providing real-time explanations or perhaps broadcasting the decision-making process on screens during events could enhance transparency and fan engagement.
