Is Denny Hamlin Running Out Of Championship Chances?

The way I see it is that Ross Chastain was doing whatever it takes to get into the championship race without wrecking anyone but himself in the process! Unbelievable, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes! That being said, does anyone else smell a new rule from NASCAR coming? – Bobby T, YouTube

Let’s just start with the inevitable: Ross Chastain‘s move at Martinsville Speedway was legendary. Personally, it was the greatest move I have seen in racing. While we have seen guys like Carl Edwards and Kyle Larson try to attempt it, it kind of surprises me that it took nearly 75 years to pull it off, yet it still seems unthinkable at the same time.

Despite how genius the move was, the question now arises if such a move should be penalized in the future. Drivers’ reactions following the race produced mixed reviews. Denny Hamlin gave Chastain credit for the move and said he tried something no one else thought of. Ryan Blaney and Chase Briscoe found the move cool, but expressed caution on whether it should be used in the future.

Then, we have Larson and Joey Logano. As mentioned above, Larson attempted a similar move one year ago to pass Hamlin for the win at Darlington Raceway.

Two video game moves that just didn’t work out, 13 years apart…

Who did it better? ? #NASCAR

Carl Edwards @ Kansas, 2008
Kyle Larson @ Darlington, 2021 pic.twitter.com/pmvWvx17Ip

— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) September 6, 2021

You would think the defending champion would be in favor of such a move, right? Not so fast.

Larson expressed displeasure with the move to Frontstretch after the race.

“That was pretty embarrassing, honestly,” Larson said. “That’s not a good look for our sport.”

Logano admitted the move was spectacular but that the “box is open” for the field to do it.

Joey Logano on Chastain’s move: “As spectacular as it was, now the box is open. … There needs to be a rule against this one. I don’t know if you want the whole field riding the wall coming to the checkered flag.”

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 30, 2022

Those two drivers mainly make up the main focus of the argument that there should be a penalty. I would say that’s egregious.

Chastain’s move put the sport in the mainstream spotlight once again. Only time will tell how long that will carry on, but it was a bright spot for a sport that has faced safety issues, officiating inconsistencies and driver/team frustrations over the past couple of months.

The move was even listed as SportsCenter’s number one play on the Top 10 plays for Sunday (Oct. 30). When was the last time you could remember a NASCAR highlight earning that spot, let alone any mention on that list? News networks and non-NASCAR fans are even talking about it, generally in a positive manner. That is what the sport wants, right?

The problem NASCAR has faced over the past couple of decades is not being able to keep…