Denny Hamlin Says He’d Retire After a Hit Like Riley Herbst’s

Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, shared his concerns about Riley Herbst's well-being following a devastating crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Hamlin, speaking on his Actions Detrimental podcast, described Herbst's injuries as severe, with bumps, bruises, and a sore wrist. The crash occurred with just five laps remaining in Sunday's race, when Herbst's No. 35 Toyota hit the outside wall and then slammed into the SAFER barrier almost head-on.

Joey Logano's flip was the more noticeable incident, but Hamlin stated that Herbst's impact was equally brutal. Hamlin suggested that if he were to endure such a hit, his retirement would be immediate. Herbst was eventually able to get up with assistance from safety personnel and was later seen with his wrist and forearm wrapped.

NASCAR has made significant changes to the Next Gen car's structure in response to incidents like Herbst's crash, aiming to absorb more energy in future crashes. Despite the severity of the accident, Herbst remained positive on USA's post-race show, thanking 23XI Toyota for their support. His crew had difficulty reaching him initially, but eventually arrived on the scene.

Herbst is scheduled to race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, with Hamlin still uncertain if the injury will impact his race status.