Christopher Bell roars back; Denny Hamlin title hopes hacked

Daytona Motor Mouths Episode 27: There’s no place like Homestead

In this week’s episode, the guys recap the thrilling race at Homestead-Miami and look forward to the upcoming race at Martinsville, where the Championship 4 will be determined.

You think you know how a NASCAR race will play out. But then something unexpected happens, like Kyle Larson crashing into barrels at the end of pit road. That’s when everything gets turned upside down, and it’s just one of the reasons why Homestead-Miami is such a special racetrack.

For some drivers, like Christopher Bell, it worked out in their favor. Despite a challenging handling car, Bell managed to secure a victory on Sunday, securing his spot in the Championship 4 for the second consecutive year. It was unimaginable during Stage 2 when he was on the verge of being lapped.

“I didn’t even think about winning at any point during the day, except maybe in the last 10 laps. The difference was just insane,” said Bell. “I mean, I was probably just a quarter straightaway away from going a lap down.”

For his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, the dramatic twists had dramatic consequences. Denny Hamlin was battling Ryan Blaney for third place when something in his steering broke, sending him into the fence and out of the race. At the same time, Martin Truex Jr. experienced a mechanical failure, forcing him to retire to the garage. Both drivers now find themselves 17 points behind Blaney heading into the final race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville.

It’s a do-or-die situation for them. “If we have to win, we’re going to try to win,” said Hamlin. “And if our season ends because of this mechanical failure, then so be it. It’s just part of racing.” Truex’s crew chief, James Small, expressed a similar sentiment: “The points situation is kind of messed up now, so it’ll be win it or wreck it, I guess.”

Blaney had control of the race until Larson’s crash. Although his car performed well on long runs, he struggled as the night fell and temperatures dropped, which prevented him from catching Bell. However, his second-place finish propelled him from being 17 points behind the cutoff line to being 10 points ahead. Nonetheless, if Hamlin, Truex Jr., Tyler Reddick, or Chris Buescher win at Martinsville, Blaney’s points advantage won’t matter.

Say what you want about NASCAR’s playoff format, but Martinsville promises to deliver something special. “We have three cars from our team that have a chance,” said Joe Gibbs. “So, we still have a chance, and that’s how we’re approaching it. We’re going to Martinsville, and I’m sure it’s going to be a classic.”

Now, let’s shift gears:

First gear: Ryan Blaney turns tables on “hack” Denny Hamlin

In the midst of a heated battle with Blaney for position, Hamlin’s steering broke. The two drivers made contact multiple times, leaving Blaney frustrated. He decided to use one of Hamlin’s own insults against him, recalling the word “hack” that Hamlin used to describe Alex Bowman at Martinsville in 2021. “He tried to slide by me two or three times and failed miserably, and then he just decided to use me up,” Blaney said. “If you’re going to slide someone, commit to it. Don’t do it halfway and use me up. What did he call Alex Bowman, ‘hack’? I think he was that today.”

Second gear: Ryan Blaney comes close to victory

Despite relief and a bit of anger, Blaney couldn’t help but feel disappointed at coming up just short of a win. He won Stage 2 and led for 53 laps. While his points situation improved and Martinsville is a favorable track for him, the missed victory lingered in his mind. “I tried to find a way to win the damn thing, and I just fell short,” he lamented.

Third gear: Tyler Reddick misses old, riskier racing

Known for his skills as a wall-rider, Reddick finished in third place but didn’t find the same advantage as usual up top. He attributed this to the durability of the new car, which levels the playing field at a track like Homestead. In the past, hitting the wall would result in a trip to the pit road. That element of risk made racing more exciting. “Everyone runs the fence, and there’s no penalty for hitting the damn wall,” Reddick explained. “Everyone just runs up there and hits it all day long. With the old car, if you hit it, you would have to come to pit road. That’s what made it so much fun. Not many drivers were willing to take that risk.”

Fourth gear: Martinsville trends

The good news for Blaney is that he has the best career average finish of 9.5 among all active drivers at Martinsville. Hamlin leads the pack with the most wins at five, followed by Truex with three. It’s going to be an intense race at Martinsville, so buckle up!

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