Denny Hamlin was a strong contender for the victory until he spun out.
The No:11 Car spinning out (In Circle via Screenshot: @NASCAR/X)
The Texas Motor Speedway hosted an exceptional race following its reconfiguration on Sunday. Team Hendrick Motorsports emerged as the winners after their teammate caused a collision on the final lap, leading NASCAR to call for a caution.
The first half of the race showcased the typical and uninspiring racing that Texas has become known for over the years. The pole sitter dominated the preceding laps to secure the stage win. However, things took a turn for the worse in the second stage, with multiple cautions due to drivers spinning out or colliding with each other.
One of the most significant spins of the day occurred in the latter half of the race involving Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin. While competing for the lead, the No:11 Toyota spun out behind Elliott’s No:9 Chevy. This allowed the 2020 Cup champion to maintain his lead easily, eliminating one less competitor to worry about.
HAMLIN SPINS!! pic.twitter.com/gK7VbOv9hM
Denny Hamlin is widely disliked by NASCAR fans, so it came as no surprise that there was a large group of supporters who enjoyed seeing him spin out. Some fans even used the Toyota driver’s infamous “I beat your favorite driver” taunt against him.
One of the main reasons why many NASCAR fans dislike Chase Elliott is due to the conflicts he has had over the years with fan-favorite drivers, including Elliott. It can be assumed that Elliott’s fans were pleased to see Hamlin, who never hesitates to show aggression in the final laps, racing against their star driver.
Yup and he’s going to cry and blame Chase for it.
DENNY HAMLIN IS WASHED 🤣🤣🤣
No point in crying over spilled milk. 🏁
I know for a FACT that the fans at the track are cheering that Hamlin wrecked 😭😭💀💀
He just lost to your preferred driver.
What do you all think about Chase’s aggressiveness today? Personally, I loved it. It was a great race.
While the spin was a major disappointment for Denny Hamlin, it doesn’t affect him much. He has already secured his spot in the playoffs with two impressive wins on short tracks. The Texas performance demonstrated that JGR can excel in races beyond short tracks, and the No:11 team will be aiming for a comeback sooner rather than later.