Hamlin hit with major penalty at Bristol after critical error

Another weekend of NASCAR action is in the books, with the first round of the Cup Series playoffs complete after Saturday night's race at Bristol.

Christopher Bell cruised through to the Round of 12 with a win at the Last Great Colosseum, but an early fire meant that Josh Berry's exit from the race, and the postseason, was confirmed, before he was followed by Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Dillon and Alex Bowman.

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Not too many playoff stars were dinged with penalties during the race, but those who were got hit pretty hard – with Kyle Larson being sent to the back of the field three times.

It was Denny Hamlin who got stung the hardest though, getting slapped with a two-lap penalty after his right-front wheel came off on track after a stop, sending him and AJ Allmendinger into the wall.

Hamlin still cruised through to the Round of 12 regardless, thanks to his win last weekend, but he will likely now be without some key members of his crew next weekend at New Hampshire, with NASCAR frequently handing out suspensions for wheels coming off on track.

With all that said, here are all the penalties handed out on Saturday night at Bristol.

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NASCAR Cup Series Bristol penalty report

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