Denny Hamlin No.11 spot in NASCAR championship four could have been jeopardized by his JGR teammate, Erik Jones. But radio communication stated that Jones was told not to pass Hamlin late in Sunday’s playoffs race at Martinsville.
Jones and Hamlin were running in the 13th and 12th positions at the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway with 15 laps to go.
At that point however, Hamlin was the third of four drivers qualifying for a chance to race for the title next weekend in Phoenix, sitting one point ahead of No. 2 Brad Keslowski and two points above Kevin Harvick. Jones’ spotter, Rick Carelli, said to him over the radio:
“Don’t pass him, Jones. Stay with him and drive what you can.”
According to NBC Sports reports, a Joe Gibbs Racing official stated on Monday that
“we don’t have team orders.” Scott Miller,
NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, said Monday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that series officials would review Jones’ late-race radio communication.
Denny Hamlin finished 11th and moved on to the Championship 4. He finished nine points ahead of Kevin Harvick, who wrecked No. 18 Kyle Busch on the final lap trying to get by him.
Logano on Remaining Championship 4 Drivers – ‘Better than any of ’em’
The Cup Rule Book lists the performance obligations that racers have as follows:
- NASCAR requires its Competitor(s) to race at 100% of their ability with the goal of achieving their best possible finishing position in the Events.
- Any Competitor(s) who takes action with the intent to Artificially Alter the finishing positions of the Event or encourages, persuades, or induces others to Artificially Alter the finishing positions of the Event shall be subject to a penalty from NASCAR, as specified in Section 12 Violations and Disciplinary Action.
- “Artificially Alter” shall be defined as actions by any Competitor(s) that show or suggest that the Competitor(s) did not race at 100% of their ability for the purpose of changing finishing positions in the Event, in NASCAR’s sole discretion