Denny Hamlin expressed uncertainty as he exited the infield care center, saying, “I’m not really sure.” The initial quiet of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 was soon shattered by chaos. A massive crash unfolded during the second stage, ensnaring Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota in the turmoil. While many in the stands pointed fingers at Corey LaJoie, Hamlin appeared puzzled. However, he later found himself aligning with the crowd’s sentiment.
Denny Hamlin finds himself in a contradiction
In recent years, superspeedway racing has become synonymous with one major trend: the need for excessive fuel conservation. Drivers often prioritize track position and minimizing pit stop times, leading to slower speeds to save fuel. Yet, as the race progresses, the dynamics shift dramatically. When Corey LaJoie made a bold move on lap 60, it triggered a colossal wreck involving 16 cars, and Hamlin was caught in the fray.
Initially, Hamlin attributed the incident to NASCAR’s fuel-saving strategies. “In the second stage, there’s definitely some fuel-saving going on, which allowed some cars to be more aggressive, I guess because they want to gain track position. It was a mix of drivers who were hesitant and those who were eager. Obviously, I ended up wrecked,” he explained in his post-incident interview. However, he quickly shifted his stance, agreeing with the crowd that LaJoie’s actions were to blame. Hamlin succinctly stated, “7 caused it,” referring to LaJoie’s car. Earlier, he had mentioned to reporters, “The first thing I saw was the 7 (LaJoie) getting turned in front of me.” Despite his initial confusion regarding the fuel-saving tactics, Hamlin later clarified his thoughts on Twitter.
The postseason field of 16 drivers is nearing the final stages of selection, with this race being the penultimate event in the Cup Series regular season. Following next week’s Cook Out Southern 500, drivers will have no further opportunities to showcase their playoff readiness. Corey LaJoie is determined to make a lasting impression for Spire Motorsports before he departs from the team. However, the blame for the Coke Zero incident may not rest solely on LaJoie’s shoulders, as Denny Hamlin’s earlier comments have also stirred frustration among other competitors.
The strategy of conserving fuel to maintain track position has become increasingly relevant: “The Daytona 500 and superspeedway racing in general has kind of come down to that,” remarked Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, shortly after the Daytona 500. This tactic has gained traction as the usual early-stage wrecks in the Daytona 500 have decreased, leading to a more congested pack in the later stages. Drivers find themselves bunched together at reduced speeds, which compromises the aerodynamic advantages that Daytona is renowned for.
Kyle Busch echoed similar frustrations, sharing his thoughts after the 2024 Daytona 500: “I believe it’s a problem. At the start of the race last weekend, we were all just sitting there at half-throttle, not passing anyone and simply following in a line. It felt disgraceful to me as a race car driver – I want to go fast, lead laps, and win the Daytona 500, yet that was the strategy we had to adopt because everyone else was doing the same.”
We witnessed a similar scenario unfold during the Coke Zero race on the same track. Let’s see who emerges victorious in this event.
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