NASCAR has suspended Chase Elliott for one race after he allegedly "intentionally" wrecked Denny Hamlin on Monday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
And as such, the Hendrick Motorsports driver will miss the weekend's race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison III.
NASCAR Suspends Chase Elliot for One Race
NASCAR has hit the brakes on Chase Elliott's racing journey.
It wasted no time in investigating the incident and determining its severity. After carefully reviewing the evidence, officials dropped the hammer on Elliott, suspending him for a single race. This decision serves as a stern reminder that it takes safety and sportsmanship seriously, and no driver is above the rules.
The popular and talented driver suffers a one-race suspension after allegedly wrecking fellow competitor Hamlin.
The NASCAR Senior Vice President for Competition, Elton Sawyer, says that they found that Elliot "intentionally" wrecked Hamlin. Sawyer shares, "The incident that happened off Turn 4, after looking at all the available resources ... it was an intentional act by Chase, in our opinion, after reviewing all the available resources there."
According to Fox Sports, Elliott has already missed a total of six races this 2023 to a snowboarding accident, which broke his leg. And now, his one-game suspension will make him miss another race this year.
Hendrick Motorsports responded to the suspension of their driver, noting that they understand that NASCAR is only maintaining consistency in its officiating. And as such, the team says, "The penalty will not be appealed." Instead, they plan to "submit a formal request for a playoff waiver."
Corey LaJoie is filling in for Elliott's absence, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the upcoming race at the World Wide Technology Raceway.
Hendrick Motorsports expressed their gratitude to Corey for filling in the void. The team also thanks Spire Motorsports for allowing him to take on the role.
Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott Crash
As per NBC Sports, Elliott and Hamlin figured in a massive crash at the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The incident occurred on Lap 186 of the 400-lap race when Elliott and Hamlin were racing side-by-side for the position.
As they entered Turn 4, Hamlin made a move to the inside of Elliott, but the latter turned left and made contact with Hamlin's Toyota, sending him spinning into the wall.
Due to the accident, both drivers had to park their cars in the middle of the Coca-Cola 600. Elliot finished at the 34th spot, whereas Hamlin sat at the 35th ranking.
Hamlin accused Elliot of throwing a "tantrum" in the middle of the race. He blurted out that the Hendrick Motorsports driver should be slapped with a suspension for his actions.
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