Denny Hamlin was involved in not one, not two, but three incidents on the racetrack during Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
After a day like that, Hamlin can’t help but feel cursed.
“If you’re gonna play the Powerball, definitely play the 11. It’s gonna hit,” Hamlin said on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast Monday. “The other wreck, the 22 pulled a late block on the 17 on the last lap and frickin’ wrecked himself, the 17 and me. I was top-five again coming to the end of a stage and got nothing out of it. Am I just generally cursed? … I’m tired of this s—, like, every time I’m in a good position, somebody screws up right in front of me.”
The first occurred on Lap 53 during Stage 1 when Hamlin, running sixth at the time, made contact with former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch coming out of Turn 4. His No. 11 Toyota spun through the frontstrech grass, bringing out the third caution of the race. Fortunately, Hamlin didn’t sustain any major damage during the spin, recovering nicely and running towards the front of the field.
On Lap 160, another setback for Hamlin. Joey Logano threw an ill-advised block on Chris Buescher and caused a wreck which collected Hamlin. This time, Hamlin had some damage, but not enough keep him out of the race. He remained a viable contender until finally, with 21 laps remaining, being in the wrong place at the wrong time caught up with him.
Denny Hamlin breaks down ‘trifecta’ of wrecking in each stage: ‘I feel like a victim’
Chase Briscoe made one move too many, trying to split a small gap and making it four-wide going into Turn 3. Briscoe lost control of his No. 14 Ford, going for a spin and slamming into the wall. Hamlin sustained damage to his right front after making contact with a sliding Briscoe. He was sitting in fifth at the time of the caution.
Hamlin led 15 laps, finishing a disappointing 23rd. He described himself as a “victim” after the race.
“I gotta look at them but I feel like a victim, I don’t know,” Hamlin said. “The 41 or 14 whoever ended up spinning out, I guess I ran into, but I mean I’m four-wide [and] I had nowhere to go on the bottom. The 99 put me four-wide, second from the bottom, there just was no room.
“Then on the frontstretch, the 8 spun us but I don’t even know, I was totally caught off guard. I don’t know if I hedged too low on the straightaway. I knew I was on the outside, but I’m not sure. But certainly, everything but the pace car today.”