Denny Hamlin throws Christopher Bell under the bus, asserts ‘NASCAR was right’ to disqualify him at Martinsville
Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has admitted that NASCAR was right to disqualify his teammate, Christopher Bell.
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Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell (Via IMAGO)
The 2024 NASCAR Cup championship-4 lineup was decided by one of the most controversial decisions of the season, at Martinsville last Sunday. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell was stripped of his final four spot, and it was given to Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, after the latter employed the banned wall ride.
While passing Bubba Wallace on the last corner, Christopher Bell came in too fast and made contact with the wall. Instead getting away from it, he kept his foot on the gas and drove close to the wall, which is a banned move, forcing NASCAR to disqualify him. His JGR teammate Denny Hamlin sees it as the right call and asserted that Bell didn’t have to do it.
In the end, I think they made the right call. I don’t like it, but they wanted to avoid us wall riding on last laps to either gain or defend positions. C Bell didn’t have to do it. I think there was probably a little bit of panic in the moment because he just shipped it into Turn 3 to try to get past the 23 [Wallace] in a panic because the 23 has issues or is falling back the last few laps.
Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental.
The JGR veteran pointed out that Bell panicked at the moment, with the championship-4 pressure on his shoulders and things got out of his control once he got in the marbles. Hamlin believes his teammate would have done fine if he had just glanced off the wall and drove in the outside lane.
He sees him, he catches him quickly, he knows he needs his spot. So, he drives in there really deep, washes, gets out of control, gets in the marbles… and then C Bell hits the wall. And in a panic situation there, he just guns it and tries to get to the line as quick as he can, where I think he would have been fine if he just glanced off of it and pulled it down.
Denny Hamlin added.
Denny Hamlin explains what was inappropriate with Christopher Bell’s actions
While further talking about the point, Hamlin pointed out that though it was not easy for Bell to get away from the wall it was doable without losing any positions. His decision to not try that and continue on the wall is what NASCAR found as inappropriate in the situation.
It was not going to be easy to pull down. He would have had to have stopped or come close it, and then accelerate off the corner, but I think it was the continuous wall contact that they deemed inappropriate.
Denny Hamlin said.
The JGR veteran has made some strong points on the whole ordeal, and it proves that of Bell thought about his actions before making the move, he would have made it into the championship-4. The mistake from the driver ruined JGR championship hopes and the teams title less streak continues.
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Justin P Joy
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