Cody Ware slammed into the tire barrier at 93 mph, trapped and calling for help. NASCAR waited nearly 35 seconds to throw the caution, letting Shane van Gisbergen cross the finish line first. Now, Denny Hamlin is calling out the sanctioning body’s explanation, and he’s not holding back.
Speaking on the latest episode of his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver weighed in on the Chicago race drama. While recapping his key takeaways from the 75-lap feature, Jared Allen, Hamlin’s co-host, asked for the veteran’s take on the Ware-NASCAR controversy.
Why Doesn’t Denny Hamlin Buy NASCAR’s Chicago Explanation?
Hamlin started on a measured note, suggesting that NASCAR likely considered multiple factors before allowing van Gisbergen to cross the finish line uninterrupted. “Regardless of what they tell you, no question, rain coming in, the possibility of lightning, the possibility of a complete s**t show… All that played into a factor, in my opinion,” he said.
However, the 44-year-old didn’t hold back when addressing NASCAR’s official explanation. “But, they’re saying that they didn’t see how big the hit was. That, I don’t understand that. You were not doing your job officiating, if you don’t see. It’s one thing to look over and say, ‘Oh, there’s a car over there.’ You’ve got to know how they got there.”
When Allen suggested that the sanctioning body may have rushed to wrap up the event before the weather turned ugly, the veteran agreed. “They will never say that, but it was just… I’m very certain in my belief that there are a lot of factors, some bad weather really close, that played a factor in when that caution was called.”
What Actually Happened During Ware’s Wreck?
During the penultimate lap of Sunday’s Grant Park 165, Ware blew his brake rotor and missed Turn 6, going straight into the tire barrier at nearly 93 miles an hour. The Rick Ware Racing driver was stuck, buried in the tires, struggling to get himself free.
Read More: Cody Ware’s Mom Shares Major Health Update After Terrifying 93 MPH Crash at Chicago
In the process, he called for help, but to no avail. While the fans were hoping for a caution owing to the wreck, the yellow was waved after almost 35 seconds, after van Gisbergen had crossed the finish line.
In a sport where safety is paramount, the delayed caution at Chicago once again raised concerns about NASCAR’s credibility, putting its officiating under the microscope. Hamlin’s blunt remarks echoed what many fans already had in mind.