NASCAR O'Reilly Daytona II

Hamlin skipping Darlington Xfinity race due to "soreness"

Denny Hamlin is still feeling sore after a violent crash late in last weekend's NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

Nick DeGroot

Edited: Sep 1, 2022, 11:49 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Hamlin, 41, was battling for the race lead with Daniel Suarez when they unknowingly led the pack into rain during the 400-mile regular season finale.

The result was a massive, track-clearing incident. Many drivers have complained that the hits taken this year in the new car are worse than the previous generation. Hamlin echoed those comments on Sunday, following his release from the infield care center.

When asked if anything specific was hurting, he replied: "No, just my whole body. My jaw hurts. I feel like my jaw is one of those boxers that gets their whole face demolished. It was certainly the first real big one I’ve had in this car and everything they’ve been telling us, all the other drivers, it’s legit.”

Daniel Suarez, TrackHouse Racing, Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, FedEx Cares Toyota Camry, Justin Haley, Kaulig Racing, LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet Camaro and Ricky Stenhouse Jr, JTG Daugherty Racing, Kroger/ NOS Chevrolet Camaro, massive wreck

Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

Originally, he planned to pull double duty this weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, as well as Southern 500, which opens the Cup Series playoffs. Hamlin has nine victories at Darlington Raceway across both divisions.

Bow now, he's decided to skip the Saturday race as he continues to deal with the effects of last Sunday's impact.

“I have had some soreness in my neck, back, and hips from the wreck on Sunday,” said Hamlin in a release from JGR. “I feel like the right thing for me to do is to sit out the Xfinity Series race and put 100 percent of my focus on getting ready for this weekend’s Cup Series playoff race.”

Instead, teammate Christopher Bell will drive the No. 18 Toyota Supra in the NXS race. Hamlin still plans to compete in the Cup race on Sunday.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Clements penalized, loses use of Daytona NXS win for playoffs

Next article Gragson beats Creed, Larson in Darlington Xfinity thriller

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

5 h

TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale

Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role

NASCAR Truck

NSTR NASCAR Truck

Homestead

6 h

Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role

The surprising convergence behind F1's increasingly competitive 2026 season

Formula 1

The surprising convergence behind F1's increasingly competitive 2026 season

“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1 10 h

“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts