The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Fontana over the weekend had a thrilling finish as Kyle Busch took home the victory, as Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin crashed on the final lap, sending Hamlin to the hospital after suffering injuries.
According to ESPN.com, Hamlin crashed into the wall following some incidental contract between his car and Logano's and although he was able to get out his car on his own, he needed to be airlifted to the hospital following the race. The report says that he suffered a compression fracture in his back and that after being released he will get further attention from Dr. Jerry Petty of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates.
Hamlin needed a back brace following his exit from Loma Linda University Medical Center, according to USA Today Sports and it is unclear whether he will miss the race in two weeks at Martinsville. Hamlin is in 10th place in the standings following the event at California and he could fall behind if he needs to sit out the next event.
"The position I was in, I couldn't breathe at all," Hamlin said, according to USA Today Sports. "I'm still having a hard time breathing. Literally, when I felt a pop, I couldn't move at all and I knew I had to get flat to my back to be able to breathe again. That's why I rushed out and just laid flat on the ground to start breathing again."
Hamlin collapsed after being able to climb out of his care and later tweeted that he was "all good" after crashing into the wall. Hamlin and Logano have been going at each other all season and things got heated last week in Las Vegas after Hamlin spun out Logano. The crash on Sunday appeared to be from strict racing at the end and did not appear to be any retaliation.
