Published 04/07/2023, 9:20 AM EDT
Recently, NASCAR imposed hefty penalties on Hendrick Motorsports and Kaulig Racing because of their involvement in the illegal modification of hood louvers. NASCAR fined a whopping $100,000 penalty to each of the five crew chiefs and a reduction of 100 team points, 100 drivers’ points, and 10 Playoff points. However, both teams appealed to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel (NMAP) and got their penalties modified.
Hendrick Motorsports got all their points back, and Kaulig Racing got their points reduced by only 25, but the fines remained. Most people did not like the amendment in penalties which prompted a last-minute change in rules regarding appeals. NASCAR passed a decision regarding the same, albeit, without any retrospective effect. However, it was devastating for Denny Hamlin as the hearing of his appeal was in process when the sudden rule change happened, and left Hamlin fuming.
What angered Denny Hamlin about the rule change?
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
If the hearing of someone’s appeal is in progress, common sense dictates that the outcome will be decided based on the existing rules. But how can one anticipate correctly when the rules have the tendency to change mid-hearing? The Joe Gibbs Racing driver must’ve felt the same when NASCAR changed the rules and subsequently, NMAP’s decision went against Hamlin.
Renowned motorsports journalist Bob Pockrass shared a tweet with an image of the modifications made to NASCAR’s rulebook. Following the sudden change, Hamlin took to Twitter to express his helplessness by responding to a tweet by Pockrass, saying, “You can’t do this in the middle of a appeal!!!”
According to the rule changes, if NMAP establishes that a penalty is legitimate, it cannot strike off the points reduction completely. There has to be a minimum and maximum range under which such reductions can take place. Luckily Hendrick Motorsports and Kaulig Racing benefitted, but Hamlin’s expectations got shattered.
It was a near miss for the #11 Toyota driver. Moreover, given the leniency shown by the panel toward HMS, Hamlin’s frustration is understandable. However, one shouldn’t lose sight of the incident that made NASCAR impose the penalty in the first place.
Denny Hamlin’s intentional act attracts a whopping $50k penalty
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Denny Hamlin admitted to having wrecked his rival Ross Chastain intentionally during the Cup Series race at the Phoenix Raceway. Following his voluntary admission of guilt, NASCAR fined him $50,000 along and docked 25 points.
Hamlin had revealed in the Actions Detrimental podcast that he was going to get a top-10 finish anyway, so he took revenge on Chastain. The recent incidents that elicited such a reaction from Hamlin include Chastain wrecking Hamlin at the Atlanta Motor Speedway last year and during the Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 5th this year.
via Imago July 24, 2022, Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA: July 2, 2022: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA: 11 DENNY HAMLIN overtaking 1 ROSS CHASTAIN at the 49th Annual M&Ms Fan Appreciation 400 in the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series. Long Pond USA – ZUMAb177 20220724_zap_b177_113 Copyright: xTaidghxBarronx
Hamlin sought his revenge, but at what cost? There seems to be no way for Hamlin to get his points back now. Will this situation serve as a deterrent to other drivers? Maybe. Maybe not.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: “I think it’s smarter”- Denny Hamlin reveals why he won’t talk about his appeal to the $50,000 Ross Chastain fiasco