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NASCAR QNA: Ryan Blaney wins again, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin tangle again

Ken Willis, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read
9

Coke 600's biggest headline: Ryan Blaney or the Chase Elliott-Denny Hamlin mess?

Let’s call it a tie, and let’s not forget Roger Penske’s role in all this.

The Captain saw one of his drivers win the Indy 500 in a packed house Roger now owns, in an IndyCar Series he also owns. Then, while attending the next night’s Indy banquet, he got word that one of his NASCAR drivers, Blaney, won the Coke 600 to break a long winless streak.

Blaney's emotions during his initial post-race TV interview tells us how much he wanted to put that 59-race skid in his mirror. Just as his voice was breaking and his eyes showing signs of welling up, however, he cut off the interview and jumped back in his car for the ride to Victory Lane.

Veteran move, right there.

But in terms of carryover, Chase Elliott’s “accidental” hooking of Denny Hamlin will likely have some shelf life. Chase said he didn’t mean it, but man it sure looked like he did, and you have to wonder why.

Ryan Blaney ended a 59-race winless streak Monday night in Charlotte.
Ryan Blaney ended a 59-race winless streak Monday night in Charlotte.

THRU THE GEARS Ryan Blaney breaks through, then breaks down; Hamlin accuses Elliott of 'tantrum'

NASCAR POLL Chase Elliott wrecked Denny Hamlin, but should he be suspended? Bubba Wallace was! Vote!

You saying Chase might eventually regret giving away one of his shots at a 2023 win?

Gee, you think? We’re now down to 12 races remaining in the regular season, and Chase needs a win to make the playoffs.

Right now, everyone still assumes he’ll get one. Maybe more than one. But if he doesn’t win in June, the pressure will get thicker each week.

And it just had to be Hamlin that he tangled with Monday night, right? Hamlin showed everyone how not to react to wrecking someone — don’t admit it! Then he’s on the other end of it and the other guy says, “No, just unfortunate circumstances.”

It certainly overshadowed the weird incident involving Bubba Wallace and Aric Almirola. Whose bingo card had Almirola shoving someone?

Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin found themselves in the middle of controversy Monday night.
Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin found themselves in the middle of controversy Monday night.

Bubba Wallace vs. Aric Almirola? You're kidding, right?

An Almirola burst of physical anger is the type of thing Vegas wouldn't even put on the odds board. He didn't like being flipped off by Bubba on the track, and sure as hell didn't like whatever Bubba said to him during the rain delay.

Things are heating up and June is just now arriving. Let's go!

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR QNA: Did Chase Elliott mean it? Did Ryan Blaney cry?