NASCAR Bombshell: Denny Hamlin Declares 23‑Car Wreck the “Best Thing” for Atlanta Race Spectacle

ATLANTA, JULY 2025 – In a stunning twist that’s turned heads across the NASCAR world, veteran Joe Gibbs Racing star Denny Hamlin delivered a bold statement following the monumental 23‑car wreck that unfolded during the Atlanta Quaker State 400. Speaking candidly on his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin declared the wreck “the best thing that happened to that race,” claiming it injected essential excitement and created dynamic on‑track action .

At lap 69 of the In‑Season Challenge’s opening race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, chaos erupted. A chaotic restart saw Hamlin clip John Hunter Nemechek, triggering a catastrophic multi‑car pileup that ultimately involved 23 cars—more than half the 40‑car field—ending the first stage in dramatic fashion

Remarkably, though the scale of destruction was massive, all involved drivers were evaluated and released from the infield care center without serious injury. The wreck even caused a tow‑truck traffic jam on the way to pit road—underscoring just how overwhelming the mayhem wasyoutube.com+9the-sun.com+9gpfans.com+9.

During his podcast, Hamlin defended the wreck with unfiltered honesty. “That wreck was the best thing that happened to that race. There’s no question about it whatsoever,” he saidthe-sun.com+7gpfans.com+7the-express.com+7.

He elaborated:

• Space Creation: The crash opened up the field, breaking the bottleneck and giving drivers more room to maneuver—something missing in recent superspeedway laps. “We’re not log‑jammed two by two by two by two… That’s what we used to have on superspeedways—a space to work,” Hamlin explainedthe-express.com+3gpfans.com+3on3.com+3.

• Improved Passing: Only around 15 cars escaped undamaged, but Hamlin pointed out that the final laps featured significantly more passing, thanks to the dispersed fielden.wikipedia.org+3on3.com+3yardbarker.com+3.

• Reminiscing the Good Old Days: He reminisced that Atlanta briefly recaptured the kind of thrilling, open competition once common on superspeedways like Daytona and Talladegagpfans.com+2on3.com+2yardbarker.com+2.

By reshaping the race, Hamlin argued, the wreck added unpredictability and entertainment value—elements often vanishing during long green‑flag stretches.

The crash had immediate consequences beyond spectacle. As the No. 1 seed entering the new single‑elimination NASCAR In‑Season Challenge, Hamlin was eliminated in the first round. He was knocked out by Ty Dillon, a No. 32 seed, while Briscoe also fell to Noah Gragsonthe-sun.com+1gpfans.com+1. Though Hamlin briefly rejoined the race and clawed back six positions later, his title hopes were dashed by the wreck .

Social media exploded with reactions. Some praised Hamlin’s refreshing candor, while others questioned the prudence of celebrating a wreck that sidelined half the field. Many fans expressed shock at the unfolding carnage with exclamations like “Holy guacamole!” and “Crash fest of the year”the-sun.com.

Fellow drivers, however, remained focused on the sporting side—many applauding the renewed aggression and competitiveness in the closing laps of the race.

As the fall-out settles, the community is left with questions: Will NASCAR consider Hamlin’s perspective in future superspeedway formats? Can disrupting the field become a consistent part of maximizing race excitement?

For now, Hamlin is upbeat. Though knocked out of the Challenge, his season remains strong, having already notched three top‑five finishes, including a win at Michigan earlier this year .

One thing is clear: what was regarded by many as a disaster may well be remembered as a pivotal moment in the evolution of NASCAR race strategy—and Hamlin’s surprise defense of the crash ensures the wreck’s legacy will race on.