MADISON, Ill. – Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin both have two victories this NASCAR Cup Series season. These two NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders clashed at World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday (June 5), and it left both drivers unhappy after the Enjoy Illinois 300.
When stage one ended, Hamlin finished fourth with Chastain right behind in him.
13 laps into stage two, after attempting to pass Hamlin, Chastain drove his No. 1 Chevrolet into Hamlin’s No. 11, causing a caution.
“Denny is not gonna be happy about that.” 👀
Contact from Ross Chastain sends Denny Hamlin into the wall at Gateway. https://t.co/5AReaSwuvG pic.twitter.com/S3rwcPvwVy
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 5, 2022
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing team repaired his No. 11 to continue, but it was heavily damaged. His chances of winning back-to-back races this season were over.
Hamlin sought retribution, however. Although he didn’t outright wreck Chastain, his driving caught the attention of NASCAR.
Denny Hamlin radio: “The tower says they think you’ve made your point.”
Hamlin himself: “Yeah, right.”#NASCAR #EnjoyIllinois300
— Adam Cheek (@adamncheek) June 5, 2022
On lap 103, Chastain then made contact with Chase Elliott, making a second driver unhappy with Chastain’s actions.
Shortly thereafter, Elliott and Hamlin tag teamed against Chastain.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 5, 2022
Yet Chastain’s No. 1 remained intact. In fact, he finished eighth. Unfortunately, Hamlin finished 11 laps down in 34th place.
After the race, Hamlin freely spoke about his ruined race.
“I thought he was being aggressive,” he said. “He got inside of us, I think he was trying to slide us and he would wash up the track and get to our door for three laps in a row. Finally, he tucked up behind us and got into the back of us. I mean, it’s just the choices you make. It made it [his day] more difficult. I didn’t touch his car. We had a miserable day – we…
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