Denny Hamlin is no stranger to run-ins with young Nationwide Series drivers. Just Google or YouTube he and Brad Keselowski. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind either, even if his opinion might not be the popular or correct one. Rewind to Dover in 2010 following penalties handed down to Richard Childress Racing in the first Chase race.
Therefore, Saturday night in Texas wasn’t a surprise. Hamlin, upset about the way that Austin Dillon was racing him, made sure the rookie driver – and the racing world – knew about it. First by making contact with Dillon heading to pit road, then telling everyone what Dillon did wrong and finishing by saying what he did about it.
“First of all, he got his ride because of his name. Second of all, you’ve got to take advantage of the opportunity,” said Hamlin on pit road. “If he’s points racing, you can’t crowd a guy that’s running for wins. I’m on the bottom; I’m all the way to the apron. I’m doing everything I can and after the checkered flag, he wants to run into me – I ran him into the fence.”
Hamlin finished fifth, Dillon sixth. Though neither were a factor coming to the finish, they still managed to grab the attention. After the two finally made it to a stop on pit road, Dillon’s crew chief Danny Stockman and younger brother Ty headed over to speak with Hamlin. Stockman clearly upset about the events, Hamlin was unfazed.
“Danny says, ‘Look, he ain’t got to fix it.’ Maybe he needs to take his little ass over there and fix the racecar if he wants to keep wrecking. He needs to learn a lesson. I believe he got wrecked at Bristol a couple of times because he crowds really, really bad. That’s part of it. If you’re going to pinch, you’re going to pay.”
Hamlin’s performance kept the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 in the lead of the owner points. Dillon remains third in the driver standings, 21 behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and teammate Elliott Sadler with two races to go. But, those were minor details in comparison to the race’s ending.
Team owner Richard Childress declined to comment on the incident. Basking in the glow of driver Kevin Harvick’s dominant victory. Dillon though, stood by his actions, noting that Hamlin was the one who put everyone four wide and that it cost two other drivers.
Dillon simply said, “My last name is Dillon. If you look back in the books, there isn’t really anybody named Dillon that ran real well. My dad hit the wall a lot so I’m going to blame it on him. But no … That’s a good comment for him [Hamlin] if he wants to think that way. I’ll take the high road.”
While the two are known to play basketball together, Saturday was neither a game nor friendly. Dillon saying he was racing hard, Hamlin saying he wasn’t racing smart.
“I don’t know why he was upset. After the checkered flag he runs into me,” said Hamlin. “I don’t know if he feels entitled by the number on his door to think he’s tough. If he’s going to start it, I’m going to finish it.”
Im no big Denny Hamlin fan but all the trash talkers about him wrecking Dillon better look at the replay. Hamlin was in the low line and passed Dillon causing him to lose another point and Dillon after the race ran into the side of Hamlins car. Hamlin retaliated and ran him into the wall. Tit for tat. Dillon started it and got what he deserved. I have all the respect in the world for Pop Pop and if he is fair about this he will take Dennys advice and let Austin work in the body shop for a week.
You are right on target about those cowboy hats. That looks so ridiculous.Seeing a big rugged guy like Tobey Kieth wear one is one thing,he fills it out and it looks good, but a little nerdy looking guy like Dillon looks foolish!!! I agree burn them at once before I have to see it again.
Denny better be glad that PopPop wasn’t looking for someone to hold his wrist watch. Course, Richard should do the Dillon boys a favor and burn them damn black cowboy hats. In most areas, having them wear those hats would be classified as child abuse