Denny Hamlin Questions NASCAR Caution Call at Martinsville

Hamlin believes TV influence led to late race caution that impacted the outcome.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:37pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway, with the cars and track broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.Hamlin's frustration with the late caution call highlights the complex interplay between NASCAR officiating and TV influence.Martinsville Today

Denny Hamlin has questioned NASCAR's decision to throw a late caution flag for debris at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. The caution, which came after Ty Dillon had a broken brake rotor on pit road, allowed Chase Elliott to catch up to Hamlin, who had been dominating the race to that point. Hamlin believes the caution was influenced by the TV broadcast team pushing for it, even though it's unclear if there was actual debris on the track.

Why it matters

The late caution had a major impact on the race, allowing Elliott to catch up to Hamlin and eventually pass him for the win. Hamlin's comments highlight the ongoing debate around NASCAR's officiating and the role that TV coverage can play in influencing caution calls.

The details

Hamlin said he wasn't surprised to see the caution come out, suggesting the TV broadcast team likely pushed for it even though it's unclear if there was actual debris on the track. He noted that in races with fewer cautions, NASCAR tends to be more willing to throw the yellow flag, whereas in races with many cautions, they are more lenient. Hamlin acknowledged that the caution wasn't the sole reason he lost the race, as his team didn't execute perfectly in the final laps.

  • The caution came out on Lap 311 of the 500-lap race at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Hamlin made his comments on the 'Actions Detrimental' podcast on Monday, the day after the race.

The players

Denny Hamlin

A veteran NASCAR driver who was leading the race at Martinsville before the late caution flag came out.

Chase Elliott

The driver who was able to catch up to Hamlin and eventually pass him for the win at Martinsville after the late caution.

Ty Dillon

The driver who had a broken brake rotor on pit road, which led to the caution flag being thrown.

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What they’re saying

“No, I didn't know that there was any. I just thought it was about that time in the race to put it out.”

— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver

“Did TV talk them into it? That's usually how it goes. 'Surely, there's got to be debris out there.' The TV starts it and when they really want a caution, they'll start to say, 'I don't know, there's got to be debris. Look at all that damage. There's stuff all over that racetrack.'”

— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver

“I'm not saying there wasn't debris because I'm uninformed here on Monday. But there was a broken brake rotor, there's a broken brake rotor on pit lane, it more than likely happened on the racetrack, so you would think it's on the racetrack somewhere.”

— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

Hamlin and his team will look to rebound at the next NASCAR race, where they will aim to execute better in the closing laps and avoid any potential controversial caution calls.

The takeaway

Hamlin's comments highlight the ongoing debate around NASCAR's officiating and the influence that TV coverage can have on caution calls. While the late caution at Martinsville was a key factor in the outcome, Hamlin acknowledged his team's own execution issues as the primary reason for the loss.