Harvick Breaks Down Hamlin's Martinsville Meltdown

The veteran driver analyzes the key moments that cost Denny Hamlin the win at Martinsville.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:57pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the final laps of a NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway, with the cars and track broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and abstract shapes, capturing the intensity and chaos of the closing moments.Hamlin's late-race collapse at Martinsville highlights the razor-thin margins in NASCAR, where one mistake can erase a dominant performance.Martinsville Today

After leading 292 laps and dominating much of Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway, Denny Hamlin appeared on track for a near-perfect points day. But a late restart, combined with lost track position and a few key moments, flipped the race in Chase Elliott's favor. Kevin Harvick broke down exactly where it all unraveled for Hamlin.

Why it matters

Martinsville is one of the most challenging short tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, where track position and restarts are critical. Hamlin's collapse highlights how quickly the dynamics of a race can change, even for a driver who has been in control for the majority of the event.

The details

Harvick pointed to Hamlin's struggles on the final restart as the turning point. Hamlin, who had controlled the inside lane and clean air for most of the afternoon, suddenly found himself in the outside lane, a disadvantage he hadn't dealt with all race. From there, the margin for error disappeared, and Harvick said 'I think that Denny lost control of the race.' Once Elliott got around Hamlin, the dynamic changed entirely, as clean air at Martinsville is everything. Harvick also highlighted a key moment involving Ryan Blaney, where Hamlin 'got that right rear quarter panel hung on the left front fender of Blaney's,' which ultimately sent Blaney into the wall.

  • Hamlin led 292 laps and dominated much of Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway.
  • The final restart proved to be the turning point of the race.
  • Hamlin later noted that the race had felt 'too easy' at times, a feeling that can sometimes signal how quickly things can change.

The players

Denny Hamlin

A veteran NASCAR Cup Series driver who led 292 laps and appeared to be in control of the race at Martinsville Speedway before a late restart and a few key moments led to his downfall.

Chase Elliott

The driver of the No. 9 car who was able to capitalize on Hamlin's struggles and take the lead, going on to win the race at Martinsville.

Kevin Harvick

A veteran NASCAR driver and analyst who broke down the key moments that cost Hamlin the win at Martinsville.

Ross Chastain

A NASCAR driver whose decision to stay out on the final restart altered the restart order and put Hamlin in an unfamiliar position on the outside lane.

Ryan Blaney

A NASCAR driver who was involved in a key incident with Hamlin that highlighted the tight racing and the way cars can lock together at Martinsville.

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What they’re saying

“I couldn't tell if he spun the tires and got it hung on the rev-limiter or what happened there, but he didn't have a good restart. I think that it actually came down to that situation. … Chase was able to get by him.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver and Analyst

“He kind of got that right rear quarter panel hung on the left front fender of Blaney's. When that happens, it hangs those cars together.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver and Analyst

“I think that Denny lost control of the race.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver and Analyst

What’s next

The NASCAR Cup Series will head to Richmond Raceway next, where Hamlin will look to bounce back from his disappointing finish at Martinsville.

The takeaway

Martinsville is a track where track position and restarts are critical, and Hamlin's collapse highlights how quickly the dynamics of a race can change, even for a driver who has been in control for the majority of the event. This race serves as a reminder that in NASCAR, no lead is ever safe, and one small mistake can be the difference between victory and defeat.