Denny Hamlin Takes Responsibility For Triggering Daytona 500 Big One
Denny Hamlin doesn't want to let Justin Allgaier take full responsibility of the big one at the 2026 Daytona 500.
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The Big One at the 2026 Daytona 500 (via AP), Denny Hamlin (via Getty Images)
The 2026 Daytona 500 ended in a massive wreck as it picked up over 20 drivers on the grid. The likes of Justin Allgaier, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and many others were caught off guard in the crash. Now, Allgaier showed class and took full responsibility for the accident. However, Hamlin has opened up on the matter and agreed to share blame with the #40 driver.
Denny Hamlin was in the thick of it during the big one and lost a lot of running on track because of the crash. Hamlin, who is already recovering from a shoulder injury, is lucky that he did not pick up any other injuries from the accident. Looking back at the time of the accident, the JGR veteran was right behind Justin Allgaier.
Admittedly, Justin Allgaier left enough space for Denny Hamlin to get by, after which he tried to fight the former for the position. However, Allgaier closed the door on Hamlin and started the massive wreck. Though the #40 driver was ready to take the full blame, the JGR veteran isn’t going to let him have it. The 45-year-old asserted that he was ready to take over 20% of the blame for the crash.
Allgaier took 100 percent of the blame; I’ll take 20 of it, I’ll take 20 of it because it was an aggressive move, but it’s coming at the end of the stage.
Denny Hamlin said on Actions Detrimental podcast.
Denny Hamlin accepted that the 20% blame he took was because his move was a rather aggressive one. Still, he continued that the fight was for the stage points, and he was going to be aggressive as the points mattered to him a lot. Hamlin thought that he would have space while moving up the outside against Allgaier, as he left the spot open a couple of corners back.
He’s gotta know I’m gonna be aggressive, like, I’m gonna take every run I’m gonna get at the end of a stage because stage points do matter to me. I established very early I wanted to be in the top. It’s why once I cleared the bottom lane, I went right to the top. I made up my mind probably 100 yards or so before I actually went high, I said, ‘I’m going to the outside no matter what.’
Denny Hamlin added.
Denny Hamlin reveals what he would do differently if he “did it all over again”
Certainly, in hindsight, Denny Hamlin would have wanted to play things out differently to maximize his winning chances. However, Hamlin does not regret his decision and believes that he would do the same thing over again if he had to relive it. The 45-year-old noted that he would’ve stayed right on the #40’s tail if he had to go again.
Denny Hamlin recalled that he was around 10mph faster than Justin Allgaier and had a great push to overtake for the race lead. The 45-year-old reckoned that if he did not try to overtake, he could have lost the position to No.12 (Ryan Blaney) and caused a domino effect of losing all the other spots. As such, Hamlin would do it all over again and race aggressively for the position if he could go back in time.
Had I had it to do all over again, I would have stayed on the 40 [Allgaier], We were running 10 mph faster than him at the time because of the push I got. If I go into the tri-oval and check up for him, does the 12 [Ryan Blaney] just plow into the back of me? Probably not because he’s got a good spotter, he’s good driver, so they can know and plan for that kind of stuff, but it would have caused a huge domino effect had I checked up and not taken it.
Denny Hamlin noted.
Tyler Reddick was able to pick up the race win at the Daytona 500 following the massive wreck. However, the win was well deserved for Reddick as he ran up front the entire race and steered clear of the trouble on track. Now, all drivers will prepare for the upcoming AutoTrader 400 at the EchoPark Speedway, and Denny Hamlin will continue to ponder over the what-if for quite some time after the race.
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