During his “Actions Detrimental” podcast Tuesday, Denny Hamlin addressed the on-track incident between Ryan Preece and Michael McDowell during Monday’s Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Hamlin downplayed any drama existing between the two after their conversation on pit road following the race.
“They got it worked out, it appears, but I didn’t see what happened,” Hamlin said. “I tried to find it — it looked like McDowell just went in there and kinda cleaned him out a little bit and ran him up the race track and they both ended way up the track.
During the final stage of the race, McDowell’s No. 34 Ford got loose going into Turns 1 and 2. McDowell made contact with Preece’s No. 41 Ford, sending him into the wall. Preece confronted McDowell on pit road after the race, and the two exchanged words. Preece initially didn’t seem interested in hearing from McDowell, but the two eventually got on the same page and walked away smiling together.
McDowell took to Twitter after the race to take responsibility for the incident.
“It was 100% my fault,” McDowell tweeted. “@RyanPreece_ has every right to be mad. I made a mistake, got loose and ruined his day. I would be mad as well.”
McDowell, who entered the Crayon 301 occupying the 16th and final playoff spot, continued his string of quality runs, racing his way to a P13 finish. Preece, meanwhile, finished 28th, further sending him out of the playoff picture. Hamlin’s consistent 2023 campaign continued with a P13 result Monday, and saw him catapult to fourth in the points standings.
Denny Hamlin still believes Chase Elliott can make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs: ‘Going to die on this hill’
Hamlin isn’t ready to jump off the cliff just yet on the prospects of Chase Elliott qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Though the two have had their issues this season on the track, Hamlin believes there’s still time for the 2020 Cup Series champion to race his way into the postseason via a win.
“I’m gonna die on this hill,” Hamlin said. “Chase Elliott is still gonna make it but I think it’s gonna be because he wins. Chase Elliott fans, let’s hold hands.”
Elliott currently sits 23rd in the points standings, 60 points behind the playoff cut-line. He is coming off a 12th place finish in Monday’s Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He remains off the pace of a playoff berth after missing six races recovering from a broken leg. Elliott later missed a seventh race after being suspended for intentionally dumping Hamlin during the Coca-Cola 600.
With just six races remaining until the playoffs begin in September, Hamlin said the schedule down the stretch favors Elliott.
“The reason I was so adamant about Chase Elliott being able to make it on points is because he is a guy who can get 50 in a race,” Hamlin said, via Essentially Sports. “And we have two road courses coming up. He has won there, Watkins Glen many times he could put a 50 spot up easily. So he can — in races do what the 16th place guy does in four races.”