A heated debate has erupted in the world of NASCAR, with drivers, officials, and fans divided over the controversial topic of race manipulation. The spark? Denny Hamlin's decision to pass Ross Chastain in the closing laps of the Charlotte ROVAL race, and his subsequent comments about potentially making a different choice if he had known Joey Logano's position in the points.
Let's rewind to the race's aftermath. Hamlin's radio went silent as his team chose not to share information about other drivers' standings. As a result, he now faces the possibility of Logano spoiling his championship dreams.
"I would've made the best decision for myself. I wish I had known," Hamlin shared with the media. "I had no idea if I was running 10th or 25th. The radio was quiet the whole time; no one said a word. I wish they had."
NASCAR's communications team addressed the matter on their Hauler Talk Podcast earlier this week, stating that discussing points over the radio and observing a driver's reaction could raise a "red flag."
"We'll remind teams not to put themselves in jeopardy," said Mike Forde, NASCAR's Managing Director of Communications. "If we heard a radio transmission like, 'Hey, Chastain needs this point to advance over Logano,' and Hamlin suddenly eased off, it would definitely raise concerns."
Should drivers be allowed to access and utilize their competitors' point standings during a race? Hamlin and several others believe so, but the topic is a sensitive one for some, particularly Christopher Bell.
"Most drivers are in the dark unless someone speaks up, and with the current sensitivity around radio communication, it feels a bit gross," Bell shared with the media at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "I'd love to just race without worrying about manipulation."
Bell explained that he doesn't want to be preoccupied with radio chatter and believes other drivers feel similarly. He simply wants to "go all out every time."
Logano, who benefited from Hamlin's pass and the subsequent wreck caused by Chastain's attempt to regain his position, expressed a desire to know the points situation during the race. He believes that even if Hamlin had let Chastain keep his spot, it wouldn't necessarily make things easier in the playoffs' Round of 8. Logano noted Chastain's history of aggressive driving, which could have backfired.
"I want to know my point situation because it matters, but I also want to know the others' because that matters too, not for manipulating the race, but to understand the risks," Logano said. "Is this guy in a must-win situation and might clobber me? How hard is this car to pass? What are the motives? There are times when my spotter, Coleman, will say, 'Hey, the top three cars on this restart are all must-wins.' I might be eighth, but knowing that prepares me for a crazy restart. I want to know these things to help me finish better, not to change the outcome."
Logano acknowledged the slippery slope but emphasized the importance of having this information. He hasn't received direct guidance from NASCAR on what's acceptable and what's not, adding that he hasn't spoken to officials and doesn't think his opinion matters either way.
"If you're just stating what's happening, it's probably fine," Logano said. "But there are gray areas. We could probably clarify some of those and help us understand what's allowed and what's not."
Hamlin also believes having field information is crucial and pointed to a 2024 incident at Martinsville Speedway, where there was no doubt about the manipulation attempts by the No. 1, No. 3, and No. 23 teams. NASCAR responded with major fines and suspensions.
"Knowing the point situation is important, and I don't see why I can't access it," Hamlin said. "I've always asked. I didn't in the ROVAL's third stage. The team gave me an update at the second stage's end because I was restarting behind Chase Briscoe and someone else, and they said Briscoe was close. I didn't want to put him in a bad spot. I knew I was basically in, so it's important info. If there's clear manipulation, what's said on the radio shouldn't matter. Everyone can see and hear, so you should be able to spot deliberate actions to manipulate the finish. In my case, I had no stake in it. I had no allegiance to either party, so my question is, do I have the right to choose my competitor?"
