Denny Hamlin, a key player in the 2026 Daytona 500, took a bold stance, sharing 20% of the blame for the massive 20-car wreck with Justin Allgaier. This incident, dubbed the 'Big One', significantly altered the race dynamics for many drivers, including Hamlin, who finished in a disappointing 31st place. The crash occurred during Lap 124, as Stage 2 was nearing its conclusion. Allgaier, leading the pack, left just enough space for Hamlin to attempt a pass, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver's aggressive move resulted in a late block, triggering the chaos. Despite the aggressive maneuver, Hamlin acknowledged the move's boldness, attributing it to the high stakes of stage points and his determination to secure a top position. He explained that he had a massive run coming down the frontstretch and believed Allgaier should have anticipated his aggressive driving, given the importance of stage points. 'Allgaier took 100 percent of the blame; I’ll take 20 of it,' Hamlin stated. 'I’ll take 20 of it because it was an aggressive move, but it’s coming at the end of the stage. He’s gotta know I’m gonna be aggressive... I made up my mind probably 100 yards or so before I actually went high, I said, ‘I’m going to the outside no matter what,’ because I knew where he had run on the top before that, so I’d knew there’d be enough space.' However, Hamlin also revealed that he would have acted differently in hindsight. Instead of attempting to pass Allgaier on the top, he would have been more patient and stayed behind him for a few more laps. This strategy, he suggested, could have avoided a potential chain reaction of accidents, as it would have prevented the 12th-placed driver, Ryan Blaney, from being forced into a dangerous situation. 'Had I had it to do all over again, I would have stayed on the 40 [Allgaier],' Hamlin said. 'We were running 10 mph faster than him at the time because of the push I got. If I go into the tri-oval and check up for him, does the 12 [Ryan Blaney] just plow into the back of me? Probably not because he’s got a good spotter, he’s good driver, so they can know and plan for that kind of stuff, but it would have caused a huge domino effect had I checked up and not taken it.' This incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between aggressive driving and potential disaster in high-stakes racing environments.
