NASCAR Admits Hamlin Jumped the Restart, Sparks Further Controversy

[@Glitchunlocked]

I'm getting really tired of hearing Elton Sawyer stumbling over himself trying to explain and justify NASCAR's bad calls.

[@timbradford8590]

Elton Sawyer is a joke!!!! He sucked as a driver and he sucks ad a technical director......

[@casey2173]

They need to hire an independent officiating body to administer these races.

[@EricEstepp]

I appreciate his willingness to address issues head-on. Don't always love his explanation, but at least he tries to be transparent

[@DiecastEmporium]

Yep, so is everyone. This was such a blatant call that a blind monkey could have made it. They need to award lagano the win.

[@jonathanwferrell]

@grantharrell3271fr

[@paulym5814]

Hamlin clearly jumped before the restart zone. It doesn’t take a genius to see it.

[@g_men2121]

Exactly. Whoever said he didnt needs fired for favoritism

[@ChristopherWHerbert]

"The initial start and all restarts shall be initiated within the restart zone on the racetrack. Double red lines on the outer wall designate the start of the restart zone. If the lead vehicle does not restart by the time it reaches the exit of the restart zone, designated by a single red line on the outer wall, the starter will initiate or restart the Race." - As per wording from the NASCAR Rule book The restart zone has an entrance boundary and an exit boundary. Where as the Control car (or lead car) must be in front of the line of cars following the Control car and the car beside the Control car. In order for a restart to be considered within the spirit of the NASCAR rules, there of. - Or the start will be controlled by the flagperson and may be called as a non-start and be required to be performed again. (in adding a lap and so on) Another outcome is that if the Control car is deemed to be hanging back for any reason. The car in second place will be allowed to lead the race over the start finish line. Which was a recent change and an additional amendment in relation to the restart rule. The actual Restart Zone is marked on the walls of the track. In accordance with the NASCAR Rule Book

[@Motorsportfan98]

Exactly Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder saw it lol

[@ChristopherWHerbert]

@trejoncolbert98 Go read the NASCAR Rule book. Best advice anyone can give you

[@ZachReifsnider]

He WaS tHE LeAdEr🤡🥸

[@samuelmcneill1120]

Either don’t admit he jumped it or penalize him doing this will just annihilate NASCAR’s credibility

[@glennpiller9417]

What credibility?

[@samuelmcneill1120]

@@glennpiller9417 fair point

[@MarshallDog]

I don't think you can penalize post-race like that. The call was made, it was even reviewed in the moment and allowed to stand, so it stands. I think Denny Hamlin would have a fair argument on appeal saying NASCAR can't reverse itself days later just because they were caught with their pants down. There's plenty of history for NASCAR letting controversial wins stand to back him up. And in the realm of controversial wins, this one is low on the list. It was a bad call, but Hamlin was probably going to win even without the small jump he got. Just get it right going forward. Don't let this become a loophole for drivers to exploit.

[@matthewgrear3260]

Stevie wonder could see it

[@AA-Ashley]

I agree, give the win to 2nd place.

[@BlueJimmie48Fan]

This is a horrible look for NASCAR. Officiating needs a MAJOR overhaul.

[@benwalter4842]

They need a school for race officials.

[@JackCallSports]

That’s like saying not calling an obvious strike in a tie baseball game NASCAR consistently being inconsistent is a tale as old as time

[@stormix5755]

This might be the peak Nascar clown moment of this decade. You can't make comedy this absurd

[@sable64]

That's for sure!

[@wingracer1614]

Oh you mean like the one not called for Max Fried in that Philly game?

[@JackCallSports]

@@wingracer1614 when it was tied? Exactly

[@b.l.secret2400]

Brian France seem to always change the rules to help Pee Wee Busch. Or The Joker Lagano. The fools they have making decisions now suck even worse. France would love The Joker Lagano new hair. 😀😂

[@paulym5814]

NASCAR selects who to penalize and who not to. They can’t even uphold their own rules.

[@stevecarey4740]

No hard line so how can there be a penalty?

[@kylegustafson6088]

​@@stevecarey4740except for the literal line painted on the track

[@noahmielke2148]

@@kylegustafson6088great point.

[@stevecarey4740]

@@kylegustafson6088 so. And it literally not a hard line lol, what else you missing?

[@stevecarey4740]

@@kylegustafson6088 if this is your only race, ok, if not, go back and look at GWC restarts, count how many look like they are starting early, every single one, except for the ones where the leader screwed up and spun the tires

[@markymarc12]

I don't care if it's lap 1 or lap 400, or a GWC, if you jump before the line, you're penalized.

[@terks43]

If you aren't going to enforce the rule book then what is the f-ing point of having one? What a joke of a sport.

[@GASparky217]

What if this happens next week? NASCAR has set a precedent that taking off a few feet early is acceptable

[@themetalfusionologist]

When he’s leading the start, watching the cars around him is ZERO excuse. They have to roll on Dennys move. He jumped the damn start…period. Penalize the whiny bastard like he would push the issue if he were in Truex shoes Edit…also defining “rigged” is in the same area of “manipulating an event to change the result to your own favorable outcome” This is literally what NASCAR has been doing for the past 20 years. Especially since everyone caught onto their “phantom cautions” and shit.

[@Shartie]

They should pull the win from him, this will show all other drivers to follow the rules. If not then get rid of the restart zone.

[@samketchum8891]

100% agree. Grow some balls, NASCAR.

[@ronstowe8898]

NASCAR should do the restarts like other racing series do it. If the restart is jumped, repack and start them again.

[@twrecks4598]

that, and if you are the cause of the caution, you go to the back ... like local races do

[@danreynolds7074]

Agreed!!!

[@danreynolds7074]

Agreed!!

[@RobertCHoweSr]

Nah! T how the yellow black flag the violator to restart at the back, 2 to 3 laps down.

[@chadkeller2144]

100%!

[@EvanDizasterous]

Imagine being SVG and watching this call after getting penalized at COTA. NASCAR just made it clear that you can break whatever rules you want, as long as you're on the front row on the last lap.

[@scottbrowning6434]

Exactly

[@JJ_R3ACH]

Turning a blind eye to this just opens a can of worms. Now every OT restart drivers can say fuck it because a trophy is on the line and NASCAR wont make the call.

[@briangardner5905]

Please let's keep the "F-bomb" out of comments. B-NASCAR FAN-Gardner

[@JJ_R3ACH]

@@briangardner5905 Nah I'm good lmao. Dumbass over here telling me what I can't type 🤡

[@briangardner5905]

@@JJ_R3ACHJJ, pardon me but I did not TELL you what you can or cannot type. I merely suggested that since kids and people new to NASCAR might be reading our comments, that leaving the "F-Bomb" out of comments might be a good idea. You can type whatever you want to. But I think people will judge you and NASCAR more harshly if you do use improper language. Plus do kids need to hear such? I don't think so.....B-NASCAR FAN-Gardner

[@JJ_R3ACH]

@@briangardner5905 Welcome to the internet. Buh bye 🤡

[@nicksterl.2133]

@@briangardner5905 simmer down mr "B-NASCAR FAN"

[@willybnation2431]

Yet another example why no one takes Nascar's officiating seriously anymore, and this isnt the first time we've seen this happen time and time again the last 20 something years or more, what a joke.

[@SJ25PB]

Can't they refund my lost bet? Admitting it and letting it stand when my guy was 2nd pisses me off even more.

[@lindaking9066]

Yes came in second on my bet too.

[@EndlessFlameout4]

Maybe don't bet then? 🤷

[@BrianIsTheGOAT594]

Now I know why they didn't penalize Hamlin after the 2020 Talladega Fall race. Unreal.

[@julianrangel7835]

I know that was Matty D's race to win That was the 2nd time he fucked Matty D into winning races

[@danielblock6876]

Yes I was mad about that race too! And guess who won it he did!

[@julianrangel7835]

@@danielblock6876 exacty and they penalize Matty D but not Hamlin i respect Matty D that Bristol race was his in 2019 till Hamlin took it away from him i was so pissed off i broke my tv and i wasnt even a Matty D fan but i became a fan of him that night cause i could tell how sad and heart broken he was losing that race but he stayed humbled about it they booed Denny like carzy that night and when they showed Matty D the place went carzy That night i lost all respect for Denny i wish joey wouldve kicked his ass at Martinsville

[@pdxholmes]

Are y’all serious? You think NASCAR is bias toward Denny? Did you not even hear what Eric said? NASCR has penalized Denny for some of the dumbest stuff in the past. Just accept NASCAR is officiated badly and made a bad call. Quit with the conspiracy stuff when there is so much contravening evidence.

[@cehamlet89]

​@@pdxholmes They're just mad because of who it benefitted. If that were Chastain or Chase or Bowman they'd have no problem with it

[@nathanielhairrell1850]

I guarantee you if it would’ve been a Cory Lajoy, or a Todd Gilliland that they would’ve reset the field and ran that race again, but because it was a rockstar, NASCAR driver, they opted to let it run

[@hollygolden9673]

Exactly!

[@Jdfuller82]

He's not a Rockstar. He's a hack.

[@hollygolden9673]

@@Jdfuller82 so true

[@overcomer1222]

No, baby faced Chase is the only rockstar. If he had been in Hamlin's position and did the same thing the vast majority of comments here would be totally different. That's a fact.

[@easyenetwork2023]

@@overcomer1222He would have gotten a bunch of hate.

[@PegassoGaming956]

I really think Denny put NASCAR officials in a bind after he pretty much admitted on his podcast that he jumped the restart. Now he forced Elton Sawyer to admit their fault but not give them enough time to invent a justification for their omission. At the same time, they couldn't just penalize Denny after the fact because they knew that Denny held the narrative and any repercussions would be seen as retaliation(?)

[@jamesglavich1426]

Talk about double standards, Gase was fined $5,000 for his little temper tantrum, and two or three crew chiefs were fined $5,000 for 1 loose lug nut, and the crew chief was 10 feet away from the car. Gase ran down the track carrying the rear bumper cover, past the double yellow line and threw it at a car.

[@tomchrisfield7348]

I agree. It's time for Elton Sawyer to step down. He either,under reacts, or over reacts, or does nothing and makes up some excuse to cover his butt. Just throw a caution, and try it again.

[@mattcardarelli]

Elton Sawyer totally looks like someone who doesn’t tip their waiter then says, they should go get a real job.

[@CNC-Time-Lapse]

NASCAR penalizing winners is not new... They clearly have double standards and it's ridiculous. If Denny knew they would not want to press the issue, that means that NASCAR is soft and can be manipulated. If there are no standards, why even have a restart zone. Just put a flag man up on the flag stand and have him call the restart. It's stupid how every week NASCAR has issues with officiating. It's like they do not want to be in charge of their own sport.

[@UahUahUah]

Doesn't make sense to me they'd rescind the second-place finish of a marketing driver like SVG in lieu of a course warning, yet completely ignore a blatant violation of a fair restart that resulted in said violating driver taking the flag.

[@brandonbell9625]

They wasted no time putting the yellow out when Kyle B brushed the wall. They had more than enough time to its time and restart again

[@blakeandrews9496]

“we can’t call a timeout and go to the sideline” as if they don’t have a specific day dedicated to post race penalties half a week after the race

[@DevinEMILE]

Or have in car cameras on all vehicles. Martins angle saw it clear as day Denny went early. Would have been easy enough to check. Say Nascar is investigating the restart. They had two laps to at least announce it then could have had a little bit of time to investigate.

[@jscott9360]

This is the dumbest thing they could have possibly said. They have 15-20 min of post-race most weeks where they can very easily, take a few minutes to make that call and penalize the 11 and call the 22 the winner, or even send the 11 to the tail and rerun the GWC.

[@Holly2017Rascal]

No such thing as “his” truth - so sick of that. Something is true or not. Individuals do not have individual “truth.”

[@dakotajackson2895]

It's more of a perspective thing, like from his perspective he's sharing what he believes is true. From a black and white perspective you're right but individuals do have different perspectives that might differ from what happened, so in their mind they are telling the truth

[@rfk617]

Facts. It makes me cringe when people say stuff like that

[@Holly2017Rascal]

@@rfk617 thank you! Good to know that I am not the only one that cringes.

[@nomadman5288]

They actually do, but it's their subjective experience which is not the same as the external, objective one. For example, if I feel angry at something that makes you sad, those are our personal or individual 'truths.' Neither is wrong and both are true to us. As for the event that triggered it, that happened as it did, regardless of our interpretation of or response to it.

[@dakotajackson2895]

@@nomadman5288 better said than I was able to lol

[@BestGuy2103]

The worst part is that Sawyer said after the race that Hamlin didnt jump. Did he or didnt he? Make up your damn mind NASCAR

[@BrianIsTheGOAT594]

So why didn't they penalize him then? Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. got really screwed over.

[@stevecarey4740]

Yeah cause that jump allowed him to pass on pit road dummie?

[@NASCARFAN93100]

Yeah they did

[@stevecarey4740]

@@NASCARFAN93100 they got beat off of pit road, long list of why your guy didn’t win, Dennys know how and talent did the rest.

[@Shartie]

​@@stevecarey4740jumping a restart isn't talent.

[@stevecarey4740]

@@Shartie stay salty. Go back and watch other GWC, we start taking wins away I guess it would just be a big mystery each week, yay. They had 2 laps, did nothing with them, the other guy did. That’s racing

[@kyleurrutia8262]

Elton sawyer needs to be fired are you kidding me the6 said nascar is not even reviewing the restart now saying it was jumped needs to hw fored

[@under6977]

Why? This is great public media. It getting people heated and paying attention. However, what's it worth to nascar future? I can only speak for me. I am starting to think about canceling my streaming service. Nascar not worth $90 to watch because inconsistent calls and burning pit strategy and pick chose who they favor.

[@t.hurson2298]

Wait, so basically if you jump the start for Overtime, then you can easily get away with it? What a fantastic precedent.

[@stillious]

"Its fine to cheat so long as its at the end of the race, because we won't do anything about it" - Elton Sawyer

[@AmericanPoliceCams]

If NASCAR doesn't want a penalty deciding a race then they shouldn't have a restart zone.

[@wingracer1614]

Easily resolved. NASCAR would just have to tell everyone in the driver's meeting hey, we screwed up but now we are going to enforce it so don't do it or we will penalize you. Of course to the public that will look bad the first time they actually have to enforce it but it solves the problem.

[@AmericanPoliceCams]

@@wingracer1614 They already have today and I will bet you $100,000 if it comes down to a caution restart again, whomever is leading will jump the start. And they'll push on normal restarts cause Denny got away with it. And them saying they missed it and can't do anything now is bull cause they did it last year a few times a couple days later.

[@wingracer1614]

@@AmericanPoliceCams I have no idea what you're trying to say

[@glennpiller9417]

Are there any consequences? Yeah Truex got screwed by Nanny NASCAR

[@gnnascarfan2410]

And they still aren’t taking the win away? Massive asterisk.

[@Holly2017Rascal]

It should be “encumbered” like they did to Logano one time at Richmond - it was a win but didn’t count if I remember correctly.

[@jscott9360]

​@user-lr9wo3de9u yes. Exactly. Joey had to win another race to make the playoffs. It wouldn't really matter though since this is Denny's second win, but they could remove the 5 playoff bonus points which I think they also did to Logano.

[@Holly2017Rascal]

@@jscott9360 thank you. Yes, take the bonus points away.

[@Continuum7]

Hamlin be like: Penalty Monday is over, now I can admit I did indeed jump the restart lol

[@clockbooooks]

My issue with this call and Elton Sawers reasoning is “it’s in the closing laps and we don’t want to make the call after the race.” So why was SVG penalized just one week ago after the race? Yes it was in an xfinity race, but the broadcast had 3 WHOLE interviews before saying SVG got a 30 second penalty. Also I get they make the rules, but you’re gaining more time jumping the restart then cutting a corner by inches Oh, Eric already mentioned it

[@whalesequence]

The precedent has been set. Every overtime restart should have the lead car jumping the restart zone. That's only fair.

[@wingracer1614]

The problem with that is sooner or later Nascar will decide to do something about it. You want to be the guy that gets a win taken away?

[@superblindeye1]

I can't believe this. NASCAR totally made the wrong call here. The rule is black and white, and if they're going to allow Denny to do this, they have to expect other drivers to try this in the future. I mean, there were penalties throughout the prior week at circuit of the Americas, so this should be no different.

[@marcom8359]

The other drivers ain't Hamlin. They'll get the book thrown at them.

[@brandondukes2289]

My local late model tracks don’t give a rat’s if it’s the 1st lap or the last. You jump you go to the back and they run the restart back. Simple.

[@jamescato7136]

I think most people forget that Chase Elliott wasn’t in any of these races at the beginning of the season last year and that is why the rating have been up so much to start the year.

[@ShyteKreek46]

The only part of Sawyer's statement that I don't buy is when he said they don't have the luxury of a time out. If it's pretty obvious what happened, you can throw the black flag.

[@Fbarts]

Truex camera angle shows it WITHOUT A DOUBT. Easy to see.

[@DennyDeliversYT]

nascar right now really just be saying _“womp womp”_ to their mistake 💀😭

[@wzpu3283]

Why don't people include the "whaaah"? The sound is clearly "whomp whomp whaaah"

[@tiger2old]

NASCAR blinked and invoked the Home Boy rule.

[@nevadadan4113]

Looks like there might need to be an independent person/group that makes these critical calls, NASCAR has proven time after time that inconsistency and/or favoritism keeps getting in the way

[@mattcardarelli]

I can already see the news story of RCR paying off said independent group making critical calls.

[@brom1491]

For years, they would make that call with in the half a lap. They just wanted him to win

[@DannyRicBobby]

Eric with the fastest uploads in the NASCAR KZbin community 💪

[@PRR-Fan]

What is the deal with Sunday night races? It used to be they never raced on Easter or Mother's Day, they would be Saturday night races, but now they race on both of those days.

[@easyenetwork2023]

I think they will go away from that after the ratings were down.

[@donmacaskill5022]

due to the two week break for the Olympics in August

[@ZPaul_]

NASCAR really needs to get their shit together when it comes to officiating. It won’t be long before one of their screw ups costs someone a championship.

[@DannyBlock-l6s]

You could be right.

[@MikeyGG34]

It already has, just ask Carl Edwards!

[@Lobxou]

"I think its legal on the last lap" sentence make so much sense now

[@Winters34]

hahah

[@MICKEY-LOGANO]

If Elliott did this everyone would be calling it favoritism.

[@sdx3918]

So you can cut a corner by 2 cm and gain no time and receive a 30 second time penalty yet you can jump the restart and gain basically half a second plus and receive nothing. My brain rn is melting with how confusing this is...

[@jamesdonley3353]

Nope he gets away with it with it

[@g_men2121]

He shouldn't. He clearly cheated

[@Takingyoutojail]

@@g_men2121Blame NASCAR not Denny

[@AidanCoffta]

@@Takingyoutojail facts

[@KawiKlx143]

Man that incar from Martin's car really shows how big a jump it was, didn't look that bad from the other angles

[@zippoflint8688]

The call was canceled when the Blue Oval took the 2nd position in the Yoda show.

[@kyleurrutia8262]

If only there was some form of data that could be released denny was good at using the data before 😅😅

[@marcus7840]

All I know is NASCAR needs to enforce their own rules. Especially when it's for the win.

[@roguepadawan1984]

The door is open for NASCAR's full credibility to leave the building. He jumped. You said it wasn't under review, then you said it was reviewed and said it was ok, now you say he jumped and it's a gray area. NASCAR: just do better. We're begging you.

[@hanusmctaffer6852]

The damn of legitimacy has cracked, 40 some odd penalties over inches at cota but a week later won't make the right call because the events sponsoring manufacturers favorite driver was in front. I've never been one to wear a tin foil hat but with officiating like that, you have to call shenanigans.

[@michaelcrane2475]

Sure would have been nice if they treated SVG's COTA finish with the same blind eye turned. Especially given the fact Denny is already through to the play offs.

[@karlarnemann6440]

They did not call it because it was Hamlin

[@wingracer1614]

I really can't see Nascar favoring Hamlin. I mean yes this and a couple other calls over the years have gone his way but every driver has had a call or two go their way. What I mean is Hamlin is not the guy they want to be favoring. Chase I could see. Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity

[@dbusch512]

Sawyer says Nascar doesn't have a timeout to go back and review but they do it's called a caution. They can just wave off the restart by throwing a caution and then penalize Hamlin then and start again.

[@winningfreak1]

Nah this needs to end. I'm sick of it and ready to be done with the sport. I don't care if it's lap 1 or lap 400. No grey area. You did it, you get a penalty. Should honestly be AI done by now, no reason this got away. The Kyle Busch caution also. Complete crap. No danger on the track, he just got out of the groove. That's not even close to a yellow.

[@Milton_Valenzuela]

NASCAR mishandling the final restart confuses the definition of "going early" versus "jumping the restart"

[@mathieuwatkinsa9668]

They should give Denny Hamlin a 25 point penalty which roughly sends him to the back of the lead lap, but I think it’s too late to take away the win now.

[@briangardner5905]

This is a VERY GOOD suggestion! Do it NASCAR - show some credibility for gosh sakes already!!! B-NASCAR FAN-Gardner

[@speedtaperacer8108]

“if I were a driver I would not be playing that game every week” Interpretation: We let Denny Hamlin cheat, but if anyone else does it we hit them with the full hammer.

[@Steeevey1222]

Ok, something stupid that Elton Sawyer said was "We don't have the luxury of a timeout or to go to the sideline and review it..." That is the dumbest argument I have ever heard. Literally just announce to the drivers that the restart is under review... and make the winner wait to celebrate until the ruling is decided. But yeah, ok Nascar, it's hard for you to do that... except it's NOT. They literally had a "timeout" or a "sideline review" at the 2019 Talladega truck race. Remeber, when they took away Johnny Sauter's win by reviewing him pushing another truck below the line. WHY CANT YOU DO THE SAME THING NASCAR????? Absolutely ridiculous

[@ashenwolf98]

I don’t mind a blown call. That has always and will always happen in live sporting events. Whatever, that’s life. What I’m a little upset by is that they missed the call, doubled down on defending that missed call, and then not even two days later were like “Yeah, no we blew that call.”

[@chrebetcrunch]

Nascar has done everything it can for restarts, except for penalizing Hamlin. Anyone else would be penalized and the next drive to do it will be penalized.

[@AidanCoffta]

There is no way you seriously think Nascar is favoring denny

[@gruntinghorse3282]

No way HMS boys are claiming favoritism

[@Dougie1969]

​@@gruntinghorse3282 It shouldn't matter if it's JGR, HMS or some nobody team. Rules are rules

[@gruntinghorse3282]

@@Dougie1969 I agree but the same people that are mad celebrated William Byron getting away with wrecking Denny under caution. Both events should have been penalized.

[@Dougie1969]

@@gruntinghorse3282 I'm a Larson fan. If Larson jumps the restart, Larson should be penalized. PERIOD

[@RobBobMar]

Eric, please continue to show viewing figures for each race - it is highly informative. Thank you for continued great NASCAR reporting!

[@fernandoarroyo3889]

So if there's no penalty for jumping the restart then everybody should do it

[@matty0000]

For the Denny haters: what’s he supposed to do? Not accept the win for something NASCAR messed up on? Don’t hate the player hate the game

[@danielfoster3642]

At least they admitted that Hamlin did in fact jump the restart. Better late than never, am I right?

[@svillagomez1010]

If they admit it, they should still penalize him and strip him the win. I mean, they still strip the win of the winner, hours after the race, and after they have celebrated. And Hamlin really thinks he's untouchable with officiating. His ego is reason why fans hate him.

[@davidbonham8512]

Don't want a late race penalty to affect the result ? Tell that to SVG. The difference is Hamlin is NASCAR's Bad Boy Poster Child, part of the establishment, and SVG is an upstart rookie from a small foreign country, not a 'good ol boy', superstar in another series shaking up the status quo. It is the same in the NBA, the rookie gets called for the travel while the superstar can walk in from half court for the dunk. At Martinsville I would love to see Cam Waters win the trucks and SVG win Xfinity. Sadly it won't happen cause those guys aren't used to the rubbing and banging in NASCAR that would draw a penalty in Supercars

[@JLOCLamborghiniFan88]

In a nutshell Elton Sawyer officially said Truex, Logano, and their fans were screwed over. Unbelieveable. The rules are RIGHT there, you cannot jump any restart or you get penalized. So apparently they've just introduced an "Abusing overtime restarts is legal" rule. NASCAR has absolutely no credibility or consistent officiating. Not the first time we've seen this as sad as it is, what a joke. This is a BAD look for them.

[@jayz93]

i mean nascar could’ve just said it much earlier

[@kensimpson8133]

Elton Sawyer has changed what he has said, Sunday night, he stated "it was close" and now he says, yes Hamlin jumped the restart. They should credit Joey Lagono with the win.

[@ak102986]

If he jumped the restart then why does Nascar not disqualify him? I agree here, that NASCAR is not rigged but they do favor drivers and storylines.

[@NASCARFAN93100]

Yeah, Hamlin should have been stripped of the W

[@scuppernongdoug8932]

There's plenty of other Motorsport that have no problem dishing out penalties post race, even if it decides the winner or podium finishers. NASCAR needs to be the same way and gain some respect

[@evanthomas5378]

Who knows NASCAR loves to let Hamlin get away Scott free about anything.

[@carlosortiz1932]

They penalized him at Phoenix last season and DQ’d at Pocono 22 calm down 😭

[@jayz93]

@@carlosortiz1932fr tho

[@Takingyoutojail]

@@carlosortiz1932not only did they penalize Hamlin But Busch too So you can’t even say they favor Toyota

[@alextharsis]

Given that both Truex and Logano were laying back on the restart (which could have been penalized), I think Sawyer had a better response available: Denny’s jump cancelled out the 19 and 22’s laying back.

[@williamsiebert9830]

Should be last car on the lead lap NO WIN

[@BradKeselowski6]

Cota was a 30 second penalty for track limits but jumped start is a no call.Hamlin should have been penalized.That restart zone is huge no reason to go early except for an unfair advantage.

[@Eagleracer38x]

Sawyer saying something completely different for 2 days... That makes in feel like rule breaking is okay if you are in first...

[@g_men2121]

Nascar admits it! But will they do shit about it? Fuck nah! Denny is their golden boy.

[@TheGoldenShot11]

Are u sure bout that?

[@stevecarey4740]

Like Earnhardt Sr was, when the torch has been passed on….maybe your the only one that didn’t get the memo

[@DannyRicBobby]

Huh??? Did you not watch the video when he talked about conspiracy theories?

[@g_men2121]

@@stevecarey4740cry

[@g_men2121]

@@TheGoldenShot11oh hell yea. Chase elliott has never been the golden boy

[@daytonbrewer5382]

This has been so blown out of proportion it’s crazy lol

[@racinjoe]

hamlin stinks go larson

[@lets-go-larson5]

Same from here!

[@gregminter6393]

I grew up watching Elton Sawyer race at our home track, Langley Speedway in Va...and was a huge fan..later when I was involved on race team..Elton and younger brother Roger built our race car..a true winner...and I was happy when he became comp director with nascar...but damn man...bro ..this year looks like an NFL officiating crew..calling BS penalties at COTA Saturday and Sunday..then turning an obvious restart violation into a glaring game deciding no call is just unforgivable..cmon Elton...get it together.. I know you're better than that

[@pkr8197]

This isn’t the first time nascar breaks the norm for Denny

[@simonsmith3060]

The #22 team would have a win in their column and a spot in the round of 16 had NASCAR followed their own rulebook and black-flagged the #11. Really sucks for a team that is starting to get their act together in 2024 after an abysmal start to the season. NASCAR will change a race finish and penalize a team if they find a mechanical issue but they won't for a driving issue? It's either favoritism or incompetence. Choose one.

[@GrandpaShark]

Did you hear Elton Sawyer on Racehub tonight? He said that Denny definitely started at least 1/2 car length early. But Nascar made the right decision. Denny broke the rules, but Nascar made the right decision. If that had happened earlier in the race, it would have been a penalty. But Nascar made the right decision. It was a green, white, checker restart, so it was urgent! So that was the right decision.

[@JordanVeinotte11]

I am a short track racer that runs late models and superlates as close as they were to that restart zone and the 19 travelled ahead 3 inches from where he was sitting I would’ve went the games that racers play with each other in the car is incredible

[@chuxtuff]

They didn't appear to have a problem doing that to Carl Edwards right before he left NASCAR. So I wonder why the change here??

[@kevinstephens1109]

With the telemetry available and in the cars you could have a trigger on the gas peddle for restarts. If they jump it gives an instant yellow and you do it over. Clean starts and no DQ

[@TankSlappr]

The Duke vs NC State game was going on at the same time as the start of the race which would definitely affect viewership numbers. Two North Carolina teams.

[@wingracer1614]

In my case I had just gotten home from preparing and eating easter dinner and right about the time the race started, I fell asleep. Didn't even need Napcar to help me sleep.

[@ShadowWolfe]

Oooohhhh dear. NASCAR really needs to get their officiating together, fast. Elton is acting like wins haven't been encumbered in the past and it's such a joke.

[@starkingkirito_34]

it hasn’t stopped nascar from taking away a win from the winner at dega or daytona. one rave comes to mind is Regan Smith at Talladega where he won the race after being forced below the double yellow line then they penalized him and gave Tony Steward the win. then in 2021 hamlin “avoids” a wreck by going below the double yellow line and keeps the win.

[@Itsgamingtime11YT]

I’m just going to say that NASCAR should enforce their rules more. Even I’m a Denny Hamlin fan and I’m saying that he jumped the restart a little bit too early

[@evanwilliams6406]

Then if they ruled he did, then they need to take the win away and give it to Joe Logano if they want to set a precedent and put Hamlin as the last car on the lead lap or penalize him 30 seconds. There needs to be equal consequences and these need to be called instead of "it happened so late in the race, we didn't have time to review it" My response to that is "Find time". Mr. Sawyer was hired to do a job, he needs to do it.

[@nathanmiddaugh6986]

Anyone who thinks Hamlin is NASCAR’s golden boy hasn’t been around for much longer than 3 months. And probably haven’t watched much more than the Netflix special. Remember back in the day when they would penalise drivers for actions detrimental to stock car racing for saying anything disparaging against NASCAR, the car, officiating, leadership, etc? During that era it was assumed Denny would get at least one of those penalties per year until they stopped handing them out. Because each year Denny still says something that would have been a penalty in that era.