Richard Petty does not see any major issues with Denny Hamlin’s alleged early start at Richmond. Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota continued their dominant performance at Richmond Raceway, securing another victory with Hamlin at the helm. In a thrilling overtime battle, Hamlin defeated his experienced teammate and delighted his hometown crowd with his 53rd Cup race win.
However, controversy surrounded Hamlin’s victory, as Martin Truex Jr. accused the No. 11 Toyota of jumpstarting in his post-race interview. Footage of the race showed the race winner hitting the gas early. Despite this, NASCAR cleared Hamlin of any wrongdoing, acknowledging it was a close call. Richard Petty, a seven-time Cup champion, acknowledged that the 23XI Racing co-owner did move early but does not view it as a significant issue.
A fan questioned whether NASCAR should have reprimanded Hamlin on the final restart, to which Petty responded that the race is already in the past and should be considered history. He also acknowledged the difficulty of making a judgement call by NASCAR so long after the race. Petty believes there is no problem with Hamlin’s win, although he empathizes with Martin Truex Jr.’s frustration.
Petty’s former crew chief and NASCAR legend also weighed in on the situation, asserting that the results were fair. He urged the racing community to move on from the controversy, as there is nothing more to be done.
Meanwhile, Martin Truex Jr., the only driver who may have been affected by the alleged jumpstart, has already shifted his focus to the upcoming race at Martinsville. It would be beneficial for NASCAR to provide details on their decision to not penalize Hamlin and establish a clear precedent for future races.