Denny Hamlin Blasts NASCAR As Talladega Winner’s Extensive Damage Revealed

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. claimed victory in a nail-biting photo finish at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, crossing the line a mere .006 seconds ahead of his closest competitor. However, the thrilling race outcome has been overshadowed by controversy following a post-race inspection that uncovered significant damage to Stenhouse’s No. 47 Chevrolet.

The damage to the car was due to a chaotic 28-car pile-up just five laps before the race concluded. This accident resulted in a substantial hole in the left side of Stenhouse’s vehicle, breaching the protective foam that NASCAR mandates for safety. Under the regulations outlined in NASCAR’s Rule Book, such damage would necessitate immediate repair. The rules explicitly require that any energy-absorbing foam on the vehicle doors be replaced if damaged, a stipulation that was seemingly overlooked.

Surprisingly, NASCAR officials did not instruct Stenhouse to pit for necessary repairs, allowing him to continue the race. This decision drew sharp criticism from several quarters, most notably from seasoned driver Denny Hamlin. Via his podcast, “Actions Detrimental,” Hamlin commented:

“So, your race winner had a huge hole in his left side door. He had some door foam missing, he had a hole in his door. This is where I think common sense would come into play, however, you do have rules. Do I think that the 47 should have come down and put Bear Bond over his door? Yes, by the letter of the law.

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx One Rate Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 05, 2024 in Talladega, Alabama. Denny Hamlin calls out…

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

“That’s why you make rules, so you have protocols, and you enforce those rules. But they didn’t, and when I hear Elton Sawyer talking after the race that it was news to him that the 47 had a hole in his door, I’m not really sure what we’re doing.

“It just seems like I hear constantly from NASCAR a lot of ridiculous reasoning behind calls that they make saying, ‘We didn’t know, we didn’t have a good angle, we can’t judge.’ Like, you have the resources to do it, why aren’t you? Eventually you have to hold your sanctioning body accountable to say, ‘You gotta do better.’ Do I think there’s a safety problem with the 47 from what I saw? I do not… The issue is the rules. They didn’t follow the rules.”

NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, Elton Sawyer, stated after the race:

“That’s news to me, the first I’ve heard of it,” Sawyer said. “I can’t comment on that because I don’t know.”