Drivers Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliot are sucking so much oxygen out of the room, it’s hard to pay attention to anything else NASCAR-related at the moment. The feud has absolutely divided the die-hard NASCAR fan base, which has even caused an old video of a Chase Elliot fan attempting to fight Hamlin to pop up and go viral once again.
Denny Hamlin via Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media YouTube
For context, this whole controversy began last week during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Hamlin and Elliott found themselves locked in a fierce battle for position. In a strategic move, Hamlin executed a maneuver that forced Elliott to collide with the outer wall. The impact caused Elliott’s car to veer back onto the track, resulting in a significant collision with the right rear of Hamlin’s vehicle.
The crash was severe enough to force both drivers out of the race.
Denny Hamlin wrecks out in Charlotte, screenshot via Fox: NASCAR Twitter
In the aftermath of the incident, Elliott maintained that it was an unintentional occurrence. Hamlin, on the other hand, isn’t buying it. He not only questioned Elliott’s account but also labeled his actions as a “tantrum,” even going as far as suggesting the possibility of suspending Elliott from racing entirely.
This incident has ignited a heated debate among fans and experts, with opinions divided on who bears the responsibility for the crash and the appropriate consequences, if any, for Elliott.
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As of now, NASCAR has gone ahead and suspended Elliott for a single race, which immediately caused a bunch of extra commotion from fans and commentators across the NASCAR world. While Hamlin’s fans were obviously happy with NASCAR’s decision, Elliott’s fans were enraged by the ruling.
The brouhaha resurrected the old video of Hamlin facing off against a Elliott fan who attempted to assault him, only adding fuel to the fire.
The video from 2017 shows an Elliott fan confronting Hamlin, only to be pulled away by NASCAR officials. The fan was upset because Hamlin caused a crash on the track when he bumped into Elliott.
This suspension Elliott has been slapped with echoes a recent incident last season in which drivers Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson also were involved in a wreck cause by a right hook from Wallace’s vehicle.
This past week, Hamlin did speak to the press after the race at Gateway stating that him and Elliott have spoken since the Coca-Cola 600 incident, saying that “I think we both want to keep it private.”
Is the feud put to rest or are we just witnessing another chapter of the rivalry unfold? Let us know in the comments below and across social media
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