“It’s good he takes responsibility, ultimately, it ruined our day,” Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott unhappy with Ross Chastain’s driving in the Enjoy Illinois 300
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Denny Hamlin(L), Ross Chastain(C) and Chase Elliott(R)
Denny Hamlin who drives the No.11 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing as a full-time Cup Series driver and Chase Elliott, the No.9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports also competing full-time in the Cup Series were distressed with the No.1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s driver Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing for his moves which proved costly for both Denny Hamlin and Elliott during the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The inaugural Cup Series event at the World Wide Technology Raceway saw Team Penske’s No.22 Ford Mustang driver Joey Logano take his second trip to Victory Lane after the Enjoy Illinois 300 ended but what happened in between was devastating for Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott as Chastain drove into them knocking them out of their steady positions dropping them to the bottom of the grid.
It was the 64th lap in Stage 1 when Ross Chastain was battling the Coca-Cola 600 victor Denny Hamlin’s car for sixth place and he rear-ended him sending him hard into the outside barrier on turn 1 with more than mild damage to the No.11 slowing him down and sending him to the pit-road for repairs, the second incident was during lap 101 where Chastain spun Elliott after exiting turn 4 and Hamlin finished 34th while Elliott finished 21st.
“The unfortunate part is it didn’t look like he got too shy after that,” says a very displeased Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin was pretty frustrated because Chastain’s running had ruined his race and he was quite consoled when Chastain realized that it was his mistake he also said that the No.1 was going too hard and making it difficult for both of them as they kept sliding while running on the inside and Hamlin too didn’t want to give up his position.
“I mean, it’s good he takes responsibility, but, you know, ultimately, it ruined our day. I think we were kind of racing hard there for a while with him on the inside, and he tried to keep sliding up in front of us and wasn’t able to because I wasn’t willing to just back off and let him slide up in front,” said Denny Hamlin.
He further added by saying that it was after a few moments that Chastain clipped his rear end and sent him into the wall, but what frustrated Hamlin was that the No.1 remorselessly did it to Chase Elliott’s No.9 again a few laps later and he added that it was a hard time racing like that and that it came back him to him again a while later.
“It didn’t take long after he tucked in behind us that he wrecked us. Yeah, the unfortunate part is it didn’t look like he got too shy after that, because I believe he hit the 9 after that one, but yeah, you just … we all have learned the hard way, and we’ve all had to have it come back around on us and it’ll be no different,” added Denny Hamlin.
Ross Chastain soon apologized for his time on the track and for what he did to Hamlin and Elliott and he said that the team owners Justin Marks and Pitbull don’t deserve a performance like that and he concluded by saying that he feels really bad to have repeated the same mistake multiple times on the track which he doesn’t want to do ever again.
“Just terrible driving, I’m supposed to be better than that. And to have all these people believing in me, Justin Marks and Pitbull to put me in this car, they deserve better. I owe half the field an apology, and words aren’t going to fix it, so I’ll have to pay for it on the track and almost did today. I just can’t believe that I continue to make the same mistakes and overdrive the corners and drive into guys,” said Ross Chastain.
Denny Hamlin stands 19th and Chase Elliott stands 1st while Ross Chastain stands 3rd and it’s pretty likely that all three will get into the playoffs this season.
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