Denny Hamlin Blasts NASCAR Over ‘Inconsistent and Confusing’ Shane van Gisbergen Penalty Decision

One of the biggest topics of contention after last weekend’s race at Chicagoland was the wreck involving Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill. The Kiwi was accused of taking revenge on the RCR driver, but the sanctioning body didn’t think so, hence refused fine the Trackhouse racer. But NASCAR did have meeting with duo in the hauler ahead of the Atlanta race this Sunday.

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin wanted SVG to get penalized, as Ryan Preece was severely penalized for a similar move in the past, and was unhappy about the inconsistent decision making. He called out the double standard, highlighting how they can’t ask the drivers to stop being aggressive with each other if they think what happened last Sunday was unintentional.

I can see where it could be mixed messaging. But I just found it interesting that if they didn’t consider it an intentional wreck, why are they insisting that it stops?

Denny Hamlin said at Chicagoland.

Further talking about the point, Denny Hamlin asserted that it is not right to have a meeting with two drivers and asked them to make changes, if they think their accident was organic. Many in the racing community like the JGR driver feels confused about the sport not being consistent regarding rules enforcement.

If it was an accident, then it would just be organic. If you’re ruling that it’s not intentional, but yet saying it has to stop, you’re saying that they had the choice to wreck each other.  So, I got a little confused on that one.

Denny Hamlin added, as reported via On3.com.

Austin Hill threatened Shane van Gisbergen in the meeting Denny Hamlin called questionable

Shane van Gisbergen talked to the media after the meeting they had in the hauler ahead of the Atlanta race and highlighted how his approach during the meeting was much different from that of Hill. He was remorseful about the incident while the RCR driver was being cheeky.

I’ve been here long enough to know how it works, I guess, but also still learning as well. It’s my first time in the hauler. One person seemed more remorseful and eager to move on than the other… Yeah, it’s hard. I don’t know how much to say, but yeah, like I’m happy, but obviously I got the most to lose and he doesn’t, so who knows.

Shane van Gisbergen said.

Further talking about the move, he highlighted how the RCR driver kind of threatened him by saying he would have the last laugh. He believes the Chevy driver is racing with an agenda unlike him who is trying be clean, doing his own thing.

I think what’s been cool about the sport is you can kind of sort it out yourselves, and then I guess it gets to that point. And to me, it’s at that point. But to him it’s not. He’s the kind of personality, I guess, who feels like he’s got to get the last laugh or the last one to strike, and he threatened that. It’s what it is. So, I’ll try and race clean and do my own thing, but I guess he’s on his own agenda.

Shane van Gisbergen added.

The comments from the Trackhouse Racing driver are on point and shows how the attitude towards the season is much different for both drivers. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the duo in the coming days.

Also Read: Zane Smith Confesses He “Dislikes Carson Hocevar as a Human”