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Denny Hamlin apologizes for spinning Chase Elliott at Martinsville

By Nick Tylwalk

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 29: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, wrecks during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 29: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, wrecks during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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Not sure that words can soothe over what happened, but Denny Hamlin at least gave it a shot after Martinsville.

On Sunday evening at Martinsville Speedway, it looked for all the world like Chase Elliott was going to capture his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory. He had the best car during the final stage of the First Data 500 and was in the lead with the laps winding down.

Then something happened, as it always seems to with Elliott. Or rather, someone happened in the form of Denny Hamlin.

Hamlin made contact with Elliott with less than three laps to go, sending him up the track and careening into the outside wall. Unlike some racing deals, there was very little ambiguity about this one, and while Elliott may not have been able to hold on for the win, that incident meant he wasn’t even leaving Martinsville with a good finish.

As a result, he now sits last among the eight remaining playoff drivers. It wasn’t only the victory, but perhaps Elliott’s championship aspirations, that got bumped off-course.

As one would expect, Elliott was not happy after the race, though as he is wont to do, he refrained from any truly memorable quotes in the Martinsville aftermath. And for Hamlin, he at least attempted to mitigate the damage with an apology on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin/status/924792019309998080

It’s interesting that Hamlin threw the “it’s becoming a normal in our sport now” as that doesn’t quit jibe with what has been happening this season overall. Yes, passing is difficult at some tracks, including short tracks. But some of those races have also been much tamer than in days gone by (Bristol, anyone?) and there haven’t been a ton of bump and go passes for wins in 2017.

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Still, better an apology with a qualifier than none at all. Generally speaking, cooler heads tend to prevail among NASCAR Cup Series drivers once the emotion of the moment has time to receded. As a result, Chase Elliott probably won’t be out looking for revenge for the remainder of the 2017 NASCAR Playoffs — but even with Hamlin’s words of contrition, it would be hard to blame Elliott if he was.

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