Denny Hamlin Penalized for Engine Violations

Denny Hamlin has been penalized by NASCAR for engine tampering, resulting in a loss of 75 points and 10 playoff points, effectively eliminating his chances for the regular-season championship. The penalty arose after Toyota Racing Development mistakenly rebuilt Hamlin's race-winning engine from Bristol before it could be inspected by NASCAR, which is a violation of the rules. This hefty penalty dropped Hamlin from third to sixth in the standings, severely impacting his playoff positioning as he now has only 11 points left, down from 21. Hamlin expressed his frustration over the emotional toll this has taken, recalling past playoff disappointments. Toyota has accepted responsibility for the oversight and is implementing measures to prevent future incidents. As the playoff races approach, Hamlin's team is faced with the challenge of recovering from this setback and maintaining competitive integrity.