‘Stop All This Bullshit’: Denny Hamlin Urges NASCAR To Teach Rookie A Lesson, Curb His Reckless Actions

This isn’t the first time NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin has lashed out at another driver over an on-track incident, and it certainly won’t be the last. Unlike other drivers on the current team, the 43-year-old has a knack for telling it like it is. So it’s no surprise that he called out Carson Hocevar over a recent incident at Nashville Superspeedway involving NASCAR Cup Series driver Harrison Burton.

While the Ally 400 had all the drama and thrill of a 300-lap event, the incident between Hocevar and Burton stood out, prompting Hamlin to not mince words on the Actions Detrimental podcast.

Denny Hamlin frustrated by Carson Hocevar’s antics

It all started on Lap 243 when Brad Keselowski crashed hard into the wall, prompting the 10th caution of the race. Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro then crashed into the rear of Harrison Burton’s No. 21 Ford Mustang under a yellow flag. Burton’s car then spun on the backstretch. Although he avoided hitting the wall and suffered no significant damage, Hocevar walked away without any penalties.

Bob Pockrass said NASCAR would look into the incident, but Denny Hamlin believes NASCAR should fine Hocevar, rather than strip him of points or impose a suspension. Speaking on the Actions Detrimental podcast, the 43-year-old said: “I’m going to go to NASCAR. They had to do something to Carson. They don’t have to suspend him or anything like that. But they have to dig into his pockets a little bit because I think they have to.

Expressing his belief that justice will be served one way or another, Hamlin said: “That kind of thing happens through self-discipline. Other drivers like Harrison Burton will spend a few weeks running Carson off the track. Or he’ll run him crazy. That’s how they discipline themselves. But in the show itself, when the warning goes out, the warning goes out. That means stop all this crap no matter what. I think they’ll definitely think about it and do something.

This isn’t the first time Denny Hamlin has chastised Carson Hocevar for his on-track antics. Last year, Hamlin lambasted Hocevar for causing Ty Gibbs to spin on Lap 303 in Turn 2 at Martinsville. Gibbs was two laps ahead of Hocevar when the incident occurred, prompting Hamlin to say the Spire Motorsport driver was “drive like an idiot“.

While Carson Hocevar’s antics can be attributed to his inexperience and temperament, the most puzzling aspect of the Harrison Burton incident was NASCAR’s indifference to the situation. The race ended with Hocevar in 16th place, while Burton suffered his first retirement of the season. Meanwhile, fans were perplexed, especially since NASCAR had already issued penalties for similar incidents in the past.

NASCAR should be more consistent in its on-track penalties

A similar incident occurred in the NASCAR Truck Series at Nashville Superspeedway when Layne Riggs was forced to serve a two-lap pit lane penalty for rear-ending Stefan Parson’s truck, causing it to spin out of control. That penalty wasn’t unprecedented either, as Carson Hocevar was held for two laps by NASCAR officials for attempting to rear-end Taylor Gray at Martinsville last year. It begs the question: Why wasn’t Hocevar held accountable for the incident this time around?

Comparing the Hocevar-Burton incident to the time NASCAR penalized Austin Hill for a collision with Cole Custer, Denny Hamlin said: “They did that to Austin Hill, right? In the Xfinity Series for hitting someone under caution at Charlotte? Cole Custer, I think it was 25 points. Something has to be done. I don’t even know if Austin Hill has the same record as Carson.

“I just think he’s a young guy coming in and he’s got the bad habits he’s picked up. He goes through phases. I think you have to get his attention. It’s not right to rear-end someone under caution. It’s not like he wrecked his car, but it doesn’t matter how bad the accident was, it’s still the same act.

It should be noted, however, that it is not uncommon for NASCAR to review an incident after the race and issue a penalty. Last year, Chase Elliott was suspended for one race after being found guilty of intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin’s car on Lap 186 of the Coca-Cola 600. However, unlike the incident at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which took place under a green flag, Hocevar damaged the right rear of Burton’s No. 21 Ford Mustang under a yellow flag.

Do you think Carson Hocevar deserves a penalty for the Nashville incident? Let us know in the comments!