Denny Hamlin draws parallels between Ryan Blaney’s Daytona wreck and Dale Sr’s tragic crash in 2001

The NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona on Saturday witnessed a massive multi-car wreck involving 16 vehicles. This crash left fans and drivers alike in a state of awe. Ryan Blaney hit the hard wall on his right with blunt force; speaking of this, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin drew an eerie comparison to the tragic 2001 crash of Dale Earnhardt Sr.

As the race reached lap 96 of 160, Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs triggered a chain reaction of chaos, with cars careening dangerously. Ryan Blaney, leading the race at that moment, found himself entangled in this frightening spectacle. His car slammed into the retaining wall, creating a harrowing scene. 

Denny Hamlin managed to avoid the calamity and cross the finish line. Hamlin reflected on this terrifying moment in the racing world on his Actions Detrimental podcast. “It’s hard to equate, you know, are the impacts the same, is one more than the other?” As Blaney walked away just fine, Hamlin couldn’t help but laud the safety innovations, stating, “certainly, the safety innovations that we’ve come up with… The HANS being the number one thing,” Hamlin remarked, pondering the similarities between Blaney’s crash and Earnhardt Sr.’s tragic accident.

Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s tragic crash in 2001 served as a grim reminder of the dangers of NASCAR racing. This devastating incident prompted the sport to undergo a significant overhaul in terms of safety. Earnhardt’s unfortunate passing was a catalyst for change, leading to the development and implementation of safety measures that have since become integral to NASCAR.

Discover: WATCH: “Doing the best Dale Earnhardt impression”- Fans go into frenzy over the multi-car mele involving Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson at Daytona

Denny Hamlin appreciates the safety improvements that NASCAR has brought in over the years

Hamlin’s praise for these innovations resonated deeply. He highlighted the remarkable impact of head-neck restraints on driver safety, acknowledging their role in reducing the risk of fatal impacts. “You know, just the head-neck restraint in general has changed the game, and certainly made it more safer, as far as a fatal impact is concerned,” he noted, emphasizing the lifesaving impact of these advancements.

Moreover, Hamlin recognized Ryan Blaney’s fortuitous circumstances. “I mean, Blaney’s taken some massive hits in the wall, in the Next Gen. Lucky for us, we got to hear him talk in an interview afterwards,” Hamlin said. “So it’s tough. These things are tough,” he remarked, highlighting the intensity and dangers that drivers face.

Hamlin also pointed out how changes made by NASCAR, particularly those involving the front clip of the cars, contributed to Blaney’s survival. These modifications allowed Blaney’s car to deflect more upon impact, decreasing the severity of the crash.

While Blaney’s hopes of winning the race were dashed due to the crash, he can take solace in the fact that he walked away from this near-death experience relatively unscathed. Blaney staying safe shows how NASCAR made things safer as the years went by.

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