During the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29th, 2023, there was an on-track incident involving Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin. Less than 24 hours later, NASCAR issued a penalty for Chase Elliott. This penalty was a one race suspension. In this article, I look at the Chase Elliott suspension, as well as the incident which brought it about.
NEWS: Chase Elliott suspended from the next NASCAR Cup Series Championship event following Monday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. pic.twitter.com/T2wmKOVofW
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 30, 2023
The Incident:
The first thing the incident between Elliott and Hamlin brought to mind was last season’s incident between Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson at Las Vegas. The Wallace/Larson incident was more excessive as Wallace had to travel further to complete the right rear hook on Larson. Furthermore, Wallace proceeded to get out of his car and shove Larson. In this incident, the same right rear hook was utilized by Elliott, but Elliott did not have to travel as far to pull off the move.
The incident which led to the Chase Elliott suspension occurred 15 laps before the end of stage two. Denny Hamlin was on the inside of Chase Elliott and ran him up the track a bit. Elliott then bounced off the wall. Finally, Elliott proceeded to turn left into the right rear of Hamlin’s car. This sent Hamlin straight into the wall and ended his race. Elliott sustained enough damage to be done for the night as well.
Just like the incident between Wallace and Larson, this one also occurred on the front straight. NASCAR pretty much had to suspend Chase Elliott after having suspended Bubba Wallace last year for the same type of incident. Intentional right rear hooks to a competitor’s vehicle don’t have a place in the sport, as they produce dangerous wrecks. In my opinion, this was a good move by NASCAR.
Fan Reaction:
As with any penalty issued by NASCAR, there will always be a fan reaction. This is especially the case when we are talking about the sports most popular driver getting suspended. In all honesty, I wasn’t sure that NASCAR would issue a suspension. As previously stated, the Wallace/Larson incident looked a lot worse on television. Furthermore, NASCAR is known for being consistently inconsistent.
Chase Elliott gets a one race suspension by @NASCAR for wrecking Denny Hamlin suspension. Hamlin admitted that he had intentionally wrecking Ross Chastain yet NASCAR only ducted 25 points and 50,000 dollar fine.. yeah NASCAR is not one sided or double standard. pic.twitter.com/tAbfxTz9Qk
— Texas Rangers #1 Fan 🤍💙❤️🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@donwhilty) May 31, 2023
Many fans were unhappy with the penalty issued to fan favorite Chase Elliott. After all, Denny Hamlin received a penalty for intentionally wrecking Ross Chastain earlier this season. As the tweet above mentions, this penalty was 25 points and a $50,000 fine. In my opinion, however, this is not the proper penalty with which to compare the Chase Elliot suspension. While Hamlin is a driver that many have a difficult time sympathizing with, Hamlin didn’t turn Chastain directly into the wall going down the front stretch.
Just for the record, I’m a fan of both Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott, and I thought both of their respective suspension for intentional wrecks were 100% fair.#NASCAR
— Sean Sedor (@SASedor2994) May 30, 2023
Not all fans, nor even all Chase Elliott fans, thought the penalty was undeserved (as seen in the tweet above.) Anyone who looks at the precedent set by the suspension given to Bubba Wallace last year seems to accept the suspension. Both incidents were very similar. They both occurred on the same type of track, in the same position on the track, and both were intentional right rear hooks.
Final Thoughts on the Whole Situation:
It could be argued that Bubba Wallace deserved a bigger penalty for his actions after the on-track incident. Personally, at the time, I felt Wallace deserved a larger penalty than a one race suspension. I don’t think that should diminish the penalty given to Chase Elliott though. There is just no justification for pulling that type of a move. NASCAR has shown that it is more than willing to allow other types of retribution. Just don’t hit the target for said retribution in the right rear going down the straightaway.
I thought Bubba Wallace was lucky to receive a one race suspension just for the on-track incident. It is a very dangerous move to pull. Anyone who is actually thinking about what they’re doing would not pull such a move. It is fair to call it a tantrum, because it is an emotional reaction done without any thought. Denny Hamlin isn’t known to be the cleanest of race car drivers. Chase Elliott had every right to be upset, especially given their history going back to 2017 at Martinsville. He did not, however, have the right, to do what he did.
Regardless of what you may think of the drivers involved, it is nice to see NASCAR finally showing some consistency in their penalties. It is definitely clear to everyone now that if you right hook someone on the straightaway, you will get a one race suspension. In my opinion, this is a good precedent to set. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
I THINK THE SUSPENSION WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. NASCAR HAS TO STOP THIS KIND OF ACTION SOMEWHERE. BUT I ALSO THINK IF DENNY DIDN’T START WITH CHASE A FEW LAPS BACK BY HITTING HIM AND THEN RUNNING HIM INTO THE WALL THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.DENNY LIKES TO DISH IT OUT BUT CAN’T TAKE IT AND IN THE END DIDN’T LIKE IT. DON’T START WHAT YOU CAN’T FINISH. DENNY NEEDS TO TAKE SOME BLAME ALSO.
I think Nascar made a difficult decision but it was the right car. It was a stupid and dangerous move that luckily didn’t take anyone else with them
Should have suspended both driver and I feel it needs to be the new rules
Hamlin has a problem with any driver that races him in a way he doesn’t like or how he races them. He even called out his own teammate #20, Bell to get out of his way. NASCAR needs to remember Hamlin has had a “incident” with EVERY driver, especially the HMS Drivers & Ross. No way should NASCAR have suspended Chase. FYI-Wallace got out of the vehicle and walked across the track to fight. That was the suspension!
First I will start out by saying I am not a Hamlin fan and never have been nor am I an Elliot fan. You say how he has called out teammates on how they race him telling them to get out of his was, that is nothing new in the sport, hell Gordon came over the radio one day upset with Jimmie Johnson saying that he was about to wreck him because he wasnt happy with the way he was being raced. Secondly Bubba did not get suspended because he walked across the track to fight Larson and NASCAR explained that when they did suspend him, the suspension was 100% for hooking Larson in the right rear (which is the most dangerous thing you can do in auto racing) sending him into the wall. Chase got the same penalty as Bubba for doing the same exact thing. Before you go off saying Chase didnt do it intentionally, yes he did. The video replay shows it, the SMT Data shows it. Hell even Earnhardt Jr who is 100$ team Hendrick agreed that it was intentional and my guess is so doesnt Rick Hendrick being that he has come out and said they will not be appealing the suspension so yes, Chase should have been suspended and will be watching from either his pit box or his recliner this weekend.
I say just hook them in the left then since that seems to be ok.
My opinion is that nascar needs to put in their rules and law book that they live by supposedly that the two drivers involved in the case of chase and Denny if one get suspended they both do because in my eyes to stop this wall crunching of one driver and not letting the second driver to get back at driver that pinched them into the wall knowing that always takes them out unless the driver lifts up. Fair is fair suspension for both drivers always no matter what. The lesson for these driver if I punish him up there and he hooks me we both will loose. They will both think twice before they do it again to another driver
I’m a Chase fan. I am leaning towards the feeling that he got the right penalty. But look at all the drivers Denny has forced into the wall in the last 5 years. He didn’t used to race like that. Sooner or later someone not only is gonna fight back, but absolutely should. Send him the message that you’re gonna get what you give. I think Denny, racing as long as he has without a championship, is getting desperate. He’s too good a driver to race the way he’s racing now, and it’s disappointing to see him so desperate. For all of them, let’s try to run clean and see what happens in the 1st 3/4 of the race. Push hard for the end of the race. Kinda reminds me of the way Harvick ( who I’m not a fan of) races.
I think that all driver’s that intentionally wreck someone should be punished, but it should be all driver’s not just a few, Logano does it just to win never a punishment ever. should be for all driver’s