Todd Gilliland spoke candidly about his involvement in the dramatic multi-car collision with Denny Hamlin at the Atlanta Motor Speedway during the Quaker State 400, revealing he has reviewed footage of the Denny Hamlin Atlanta wreck nearly 100 times to fully understand what transpired. The incident started when Hamlin’s No. 11 car was nudged sideways after Kyle Larson’s No. 42 made contact, triggering a chain reaction that slowed the pack and ultimately caused a massive crash.

The resulting wreck involved 23 cars, including prominent drivers such as Joey Logano, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Austin Cindric, severely impacting Team Penske as none of their drivers finished the race. Hamlin’s car spun out across the track, prompting a red flag and shaking up the overall race standings. Todd Gilliland finished 27th and currently ranks 28th in the points, while Hamlin’s position in the standings suffered significant damage due to the crash.

Todd Gilliland Reflects on the Incident and His Role

During a media session, Gilliland shared his thoughts on the wreck and the series of events leading up to it. He noted that Hamlin’s car was pushed by Larson’s vehicle, which caused the chain reaction that ensnared multiple cars in the pileup. Gilliland acknowledged his part in the incident, admitting he could have maintained a safer distance but also pointed out the tight racing conditions at the time.

“Yeah. I’ve watched the replays of that probably 100 times. I really don’t know. I feel like the 11 had the 42 jacked up and the 42 was pushing the guy in front of him. There was literally eight of us in the train. Obviously, looking back now knowing they wrecked, I should have had a bigger gap. That’s on me to look out for those guys, but they were all tight in front of them.” —Todd Gilliland, NASCAR driver

“I think he got the 42 sideways and that kind of slowed them down a little bit and then I got to their bumper, slowed down, and then I was getting pushed as well. I don’t know. To me, I hate that I was part of it. I definitely contributed to it, but on the flip side of it, it definitely seemed like maybe more of a racing deal.” —Todd Gilliland, NASCAR driver

Gilliland’s reflections reveal his frustration and distress over being part of the wreck, while also recognizing that the tight pack racing and subsequent reactions from other drivers contributed to the disaster. His analysis paints a picture of a complex, fast-moving situation where split-second decisions led to a significant incident.

Background on Todd Gilliland’s Racing Career

Todd Gilliland, 24, hails from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, and is a third-generation racer. His father, David Gilliland, is a former NASCAR driver and current team owner. Todd made headlines as a young rising star, becoming the youngest winner in ARCA Menards Series history. He also secured back-to-back championships in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016 and 2017, demonstrating early promise in his racing career.

Progressing in the ranks, Gilliland moved to Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series before advancing to the NASCAR Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports. His recent involvement in the intense Denny Hamlin Atlanta wreck marks a notable moment in his ongoing career.

Denny Hamlin’s Perspective on the Wreck’s Impact on the Race

Despite being a central figure in the massive crash, Denny Hamlin described the wreck as a turning point for the 2025 Atlanta race. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin explained that the wreck, while disruptive, ultimately improved the race by creating valuable space between cars.

“That wreck was the best thing to happen to that race. There’s no question about it whatsoever because what it did is it created space between the cars. We were not log-jammed two-by-two-by-two-by-two-by-two. There was space. There was only 15 cars maybe that were not damaged. So if you look, all the passing that was done at the end of that race… It was created through space of the cars.” —Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver

The crash left only about 15 undamaged cars on the track, breaking up the tight formations common in NASCAR racing. This allowed drivers more room to maneuver, leading to increased passing and a dramatic finish, changing the dynamics of the race in a way that Hamlin viewed positively despite the wreck’s severity.

Implications and What Comes Next Following the Wreck

The Denny Hamlin Atlanta wreck not only reshaped the race results but also had a significant impact on the championship standings, with both Hamlin and Gilliland losing ground. For Team Penske, the incident was particularly costly as none of their drivers were able to finish strong. The large-scale pileup highlighted the dangers of close pack racing and may influence team strategies and driver caution in future events at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

For Todd Gilliland, this moment marks a critical learning experience that he is carefully analyzing in hopes of avoiding similar situations. As the NASCAR season progresses, the drivers involved will continue to adapt, and the events of this race could shape both driver behavior and competition strategy going forward.