Additional pit stop and a late crash thwart Denny Hamlin’s commanding performance at Darlington

Fresh from securing his sixth Darlington victory in the Xfinity Series on Saturday’s undercard, Hamlin began the Sunday race from the second spot and assumed control during the opening stage. Clinching victories in both stages added a pair of playoff points to his tally, creating a cushion in the standings for what lay ahead.

During the final stage’s initial round of pit stops, Hamlin brought his No. 11 Toyota back to the pit road, suspecting an issue with the left-rear wheel. Despite the additional four-tire change knocking him out of contention, Gabehart later communicated with Hamlin, stating that the team couldn’t find any issues.

Gabehart reassured, “From all indications, the wheel looked fine, buddy.”

Hamlin responded, “It was loose. I could feel it.”

Although Hamlin’s certainty wavered post-race, he believed the sensation in his car justified the extra pit stop. He explained, “It’s quite challenging to determine. The left-rear appeared to be tightening as we left the pit. It was close enough that it wouldn’t have made a difference. What I felt was that I would’ve crashed if I’d continued. I had to pit, which completely changed the course of the day.”

Gabehart emphasized that given the sensitive nature of the left-rear wheel’s behavior on the track, it wasn’t worth taking any chances. He entrusted his driver’s instincts and experience to make the decision on pit road.

“While nothing visible was apparent to the naked eye, the left-rear tire is significantly more susceptible to becoming loose due to how it’s loaded on the track,” Gabehart explained. “So, even if it’s not visually evident, it doesn’t mean it’s not a valid concern because it’s incredibly sensitive. After reviewing the footage, which takes time to acquire, our initial focus is on assessing the wheels. That’s something we can do immediately. It takes a few minutes to gather all the footage from the pit crew for evaluation. Once we examined the left-rear wheel nut tightening, doubt crept in. It’s not definitive, but there’s uncertainty.”

He continued, “My driver has secured 50 wins in these races. He’s been in the business for nearly two decades. He’s attuned to what he feels. On live TV, it might have seemed uncertain, but I’m confident. Denny is certain.”

Although Hamlin’s less-than-stellar finish was offset by the accumulation of points in the stages, which helped him counterbalance the setback, the incident included a scrape with 35 laps remaining. He commenced the postseason as the third seed but slid two positions down to fifth in the Cup Series rankings.

The series now progresses to the Kansas Speedway, the location of the middle race in the opening Round of 16. Hamlin had triumphed in the most recent Cup Series visit in May, yet the element of unpredictability is expected to remain high. Converting a win at Darlington would have relieved the pressure.

“In any case, I lament it for the team, Denny, and the pit crew. I mean, they had an incredible day. By all measures, they were likely among the top three on pit road today, if not the best,” Gabehart expressed. “However, this is NASCAR racing, and even the slightest error can make all the difference in today’s competitive environment. And today, that’s what happened, and it’s deeply disappointing. It’s disheartening to keep losing races in these ways, especially when we clearly had the leading car. Denny probably hadn’t even revealed his full potential, I believe. Having the desire to win isn’t enough. It’s essential to get everything right, and it’s extremely frustrating to keep missing out on opportunities.”