Michael McDowell comments on contact with Denny Hamlin at Darlington

Michael McDowell addressed the on-track incident involving Denny Hamlin at the start of the final stage at Darlington. The contact caused Hamlin’s No. 11 car to strike the outside wall, resulting in toe link damage that forced repairs and left him a lap down. Hamlin eventually finished 18th in the race. McDowell stated he was caught off guard by Hamlin’s late lift at the exit of the corner and noted that he was trying to avoid losing positions to Alex Bowman. While McDowell believes the blame was shared, he expressed regret for the impact on Hamlin’s Chase run, as McDowell did not qualify for the postseason. Hamlin’s finish significantly narrowed his lead in the NASCAR Cup Series standings to seven points over Christopher Bell heading into the event at World Wide Technology Raceway.

• 1:29 AMYahoo Sports — Michael McDowell Addresses Denny Hamlin Darlington Incident