During the Coca-Cola 600, Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher clashed due to the proximity of the No. 17 and the No. 11 on pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Hamlin had grown frustrated with how Buescher was pitting during the race, believing the No. 17 was leaving him in a very unfavorable position. Buescher’s pit box is right in front off Hamlin’s for this race, and Buescher was pitting toward the back of his box. That was forcing Hamlin to have to back up to exit his pit box, costing him valuable time in the race, and positions.
After some heated words on the radio between Hamlin and his crew chief Chris Gabehart, Buescher’s crew eventually did end up altering how their driver came into the pit box, and the two teams had a conversation during the caution for rain that seemed perfectly civil. However, we never got back on the track afterwards.
During the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin aired it out regarding the entire debacle, giving his thoughts on the matter as a whole, and pointing out two other drivers and their involvement, as well.
“People were on TV, Kevin Harvick was saying, ‘Well, the No. 11 just has to move back.’ What they didn’t understand … I had to go around the No. 24. Yes, I had an opening behind me, but the timing was terrible every time. The No. 24 was always two spots ahead,” Hamlin stated. “He would pull in, his tire changers would run out on pit road. I would have to swing around them, so that would get me swung out to the right.
“I had an opening, but if I drove straight to where I had to swing out to get around his people, I would be nosed into my stall and crooked. I wouldn’t be able to get out then. I needed all the space in my pit road box, to get my car pointed to the right.”
In addition to being put in an unfavorable position by the No. 24, Hamlin pointed out that Austin Dillon and John Hunter Nemechek weren’t making it easy on him or Buescher, as well. Hamlin actually called out the duo for, “The worst f—ing park jobs you’ll ever see,” on pit road, and even relayed that he called both drivers during the rain delay to figure out what they could do to remedy the issue.
Regardless, Denny Hamlin was able to finish in the top five, but it’s evident he believed he would’ve been even better in Charlotte without some troubles on pit road. Perhaps he’ll be more mindful of the possibility next time the Cup Series returns to Charlotte.
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