Denny Hamlin explains how he spun racing Bubba Wallace for the lead at Michigan

With the laps winding down on Stage 1 at Michigan, Denny Hamlin got loose and spun out into the infield grass from P2. The NASCAR veteran knows the mistake he made, but couldn’t help but try to make the move for the lead.

Denny Hamlin started on the pole after qualifying was rained out on Saturday. He would quickly lose the lead to Kyle Larson. Then, it became a classic Larson vs. Hamlin race again. That was until Bubba Wallace entered the picture.

Wallace shot under Hamlin and Larson as they raced each other side-by-side. The 23 took the lead, and then Hamlin gave chase. Despite a weakness in Wallace’s lap on Turn 4, Hamlin couldn’t make the move he attempted.

Caution flag.

During the rain delay, before NASCAR postponed the rest of the race to Monday, Hamlin talked about the wreck.

“Well it is in those type of scenarios, I made a move there thinking maybe I could get to – I saw Bubba was a little weak off Turn 4 but right there, I just got into a bad aero spot and it happened so quick,” Hamlin explained on the TV broadcast. “Yeah, now I’ve just got a little extra time to think about my sins behind the car over the next while we’re trying to get this. It has a little damage on the underbody, I don’t know how much of an effect it will have. I was having so much fun out there, you know, paddling. I think we’ve got a great Yahoo Camry, I just gotta straighten it up, not make mistakes.”

That late-stage caution would actually matter. It allowed drivers to pit and others to stay out, shaking up the stage points. That means the regular season championship battle and playoff bubble were affected.

Denny Hamlin spins in Stage 1

With Denny spinning, it allowed pit stops to happen. Only a few drivers stayed out at the end of Stage 1. Ryan Blaney was one of those drivers, hoping to bank a playoff point with a stage win. William Byron stayed out as well.

As we continue to have the bubble battle for the playoffs, the stage points are so important. Bubba Wallace was able to make it back in front of Chris Buescher, both drivers fighting for the same spots in the playoffs, even after he pitted.

While we got to see the first stage, Stage 2 did not begin before rain moved back in. Red flag came out, cars went down pit road, and the fans were preparing for the rain to fall once again.

Denny Hamlin has an opportunity to get back in the front of this race. However, the race has to actually start again for that opportunity to arise. Looks like Hamlin will take his opportunities on Monday when the FireKeepers Casino 400 restarts.