Denny Hamlin called out Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott for the numerous cautions that occurred at the NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa on Sunday. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin shared his thoughts on why the late cautions dominated the race.
“Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson laying back three car lengths on the field and then getting a run and going four-wide, that’s what causes the wrecks,” Denny Hamlin said. Hamlin was then asked if Elliott and Larson did that to pass cars.
“Yeah, but you’re not allowed to do that,” he stated. NASCAR is not calling it.” Hamlin then explained why other drivers don’t do the same thing if NASCAR is not calling it. “I think it’s what their driver instructor is telling them to do,” Hamlin said.
“Do it as much as you can get away with it. But what I’m calling on is NASCAR officiating to do something about it, because it’s a complete disregard for the people that you’re laying back from. You’re just winning to stick them in a four-wide situation where you know they’re going to wreck, or someone’s going to wreck, and you just don’t care.”
Denny Hamlin shares more on the cautions at Iowa
Hamlin then said that’s what happened with Elliott and Larson. “They lay back so much, they must have been running 10 miles an hour faster, probably more than that, than the cars in front of them when they all took off, and then they both tried to shoot the gap at the same time in the middle. They both deserved to wreck.”
The race at Iowa Speedway had 12 cautions for 72 laps. Of those 12 cautions, seven occurred in the final stage. Elliott and Larson, who both drive for Hendrick Motorsports, battled during the race and were involved in numerous incidents. It led to Larson going off on his team’s radio.
“How much f****** room do I have to leave people?” he said. “…. I’ve been trying to be a good teammate, a good competitor and it hasn’t gotten me anywhere for the last hour.”
Chase Elliott earned a P14 finish while Kyle Larson finished 28th. The two are also battling for a regular-season championship, as Elliott is in second place in the Cup points standings while Larson is in third.
