"He shouldn't be mad": Kaulig Racing president disputes Denny Hamlin's outrage over Chris Buescher at Charlotte

Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice has called out Denny Hamlin's frustration over Chris Buescher at the Coca-Cola 600. The RFK Racing driver hindered the Joe Gibbs Racing driver's pitstops, costing him precious seconds during the 249-lap run at Charlotte.

Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted the 127th Cup Series race but inclement weather conditions prompted the officials to call off the race with 151 laps still left. As a result, the then frontrunner Christopher Bell was declared the winner of the Coca-Cola 600.

During the early phase of pitstops, Chris Buescher parked his #17 car in the rear of his pit box. Buescher failed to make a qualifying lap and was last in line to opt for a preferred pit box. This landed him in front of Denny Hamlin. Since the RFK Racing driver's box was just ahead of Hamlin's, the #11 Toyota driver was left with a small room for exiting the pit box and lost several seconds.

Thus, Hamlin got frustrated and threatened Buscher with a payback. However, the Florida native's anger didn't sit well with Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice and he disputed the former's outrage:

"He shouldn't be mad, that is part of competition. You block the guy in behind you that you're racing against. You [Hamlin] gotta know this that he's gonna do that. Chris Buescher and that team played that scenario out before they ever came out there when they decided to pick in front of him [Denny Hamlin]," Rice said via Dirty Mo Media on X.

"Park in your Goddamn box!"- Denny Hamlin blasts on his radio and threatened Chris Buescher with serious repercussions

Denny Hamlin set the 11th-fastest qualifying time, clocking 181.537 mph of top speed. However, because of Chris Buescher's early pitstops drama, the JGR driver witnessed a drastic fall in his track position and finished Stage 1 in a dismal 25th place.

Enraged by Buescher's way of pitting, Denny Hamlin turned to his crew chief Chris Gabehart to do something about the drama:

"Well, then go over there, Chris, go talk to him,” Hamlin said via NASCAR on X.

"Brother, if I do anything more than I’ve already done, we’re going to FIGHT! Do you understand? I’ve done all I can do!” Gabehart replied.

Displeased by his crew chief's take, Hamlin replied:

"That’s what I’m going to do next time. Do you hear me 17 [Buescher's Ford]? Park in your Goddamn box! I will stomp on your bumper!"

Nonetheless, the #11 Toyota driver resurrected his on-track game and initiated several overtakes, bringing him back into contention and finishing Stage 2 in second place. 49 laps were completed after Stage 2, but heavy downpours prompted the officials to issue a red flag, and the race was stalled for over 2 hours.

After much consideration, NASCAR deemed fit to cancel the race than to resume it and Hamlin's teammate Christopher Bell emerged as the winner, while the former settled in fifth place.