Inb4 Hamlin wins it

Here is what wasn’t caught on video…

First, let’s address the “sucker punch.” Before the cameras started rolling I approached Nick and said “hey” when he turned around I said “what the —?!” to which he looked right at me and threatened me. That is when it all went to hell. I had his attention, words were exchanged, all before anything physical took place, so I did not “sucker punch” the guy. There may not be video, but there were plenty of eye witnesses.

Second, what people don’t take into account is that he all but “sucker punched” me at 200 mph. The way he pushed my truck gave me no ability to get out of the situation and he was told multiple times during that race the way he was pushing people was going to cause a wreck and going to get people hurt.

There is a consistent pattern of certain drivers having a lack of respect on the track, and it was time for someone to say something. Am I proud that it got physical, no, but last time I checked everyone on that track is a grown adult. If a man looks at me and threatens me, I am going to react. Especially when tempers are already flared from being wrecked on the track.

I apologize to my team, my sponsors and partners, my family, and the NASCAR community for the negativity and for taking attention away from a good day of racing at Talladega.

Don’t forget Crafton also said “I’ll finish you off in homestead you little fucker” (it’s at the end of one of the videos).

This modern “let’s punish everybody equally” policy is bullshit too, Crafton started it, therefore he shoulders 100% of the responsibility for what happens after. If you are going to start victim punishing, then all hell is going to break loose and you’re going to have outright brawls and people will then get seriously hurt because most people will be like “well this chickenshit rule mean I’m getting punished for being punched anyway, so I might as well get my moneys worth”.

No you punish the instigator first before the victim, words are just words at the end of the day, broken noses is a different level.

What's the decision when Sanchez retaliates, risking more serious injuries to Crafton?