“The race that started the villain trajectory” - Fans react as NASCAR remembers Denny Hamlin-Chase Elliott feud from 2017

Back in 2017, a single maneuver by Denny Hamlin sparked a long-standing feud with Chase Elliott. Recently, NASCAR revisited that memorable clash to remind fans of the intense on-track battle that unfolded more than eight years ago.

At the time, Chase Elliott was behind the wheel of the #24 car for Hendrick Motorsports. On October 19, 2017, Elliott started at third place while Denny Hamlin was at sixth. Through the race, Hamlin moved from sixth to tenth by the end of Stage 1 and fell outside the top 10 in Stage 2.

The drama peaked in the final stage during a restart on lap 497. With Brad Keselowski opting for the outside line and Elliott on the inside, the latter forced Keselowski's car up the track to seize the lead.

However, Denny Hamlin closed in, and bumped into Elliott’s rear, spinning him into the wall and crashing, which sent the race into overtime. The move led to a heated exchange on pit road, where Elliott visibly confronted Hamlin.

Recently, when a video of the moment resurfaced on NASCAR’s social media, fans were quick to relive the intensity of that night.

"The race that started the villain trajectory for Hamlin," wrote a fan.

Here are a few more comments from the post:

"And Elliot still won a championship before Hamlin," an Elliott fan said.

"I was hoping they'd turn that big guy loose on denny," shared another.

"I remember when Martinsville used to be great. Then came the next Gen 💔😩," said a fan sharing disappointment with the Next Gen cars.

"No that wasn’t Martinsville… that was just a driver who decided to not race clean for the win," said a fan.

"If Hamlin was so much faster why not just pass on the ouy," asked another NASCAR enthusiast.

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Chase Elliott's fan was ready to throw down with Denny Hamlin in the pits after the controversial wreck

Hamlin's move didn't sit well with the fans, young or old. Back in 2017, one particularly irate fan tried to confront Denny Hamlin directly in the pits as the race concluded.

The situation nearly escalated into a physical altercation before a crew member stepped in, and track security quickly removed the fan from the pit road.

Chase Elliott himself was visibly upset and expressed his frustration during a post-race interview. He pointed out a discrepancy in Denny Hamlin's explanation, saying:

"Funny thing was, he said somebody was pushing him, but there were two car lengths between him and the next guy. My mom always said 'You don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all,' so he's not even worth my time. We're gonna go on to Texas." [at 0:42]

The animosity between Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin hasn't cooled down since then. With both drivers eyeing a spot in the championship finale this season, tensions could flare up again.