Denny Hamlin: 'I hurt my hand in Bristol crash'

Jeff Gluck | USA TODAY Sports

Martin Truex Jr. wasn't the only NASCAR driver to injure his hand during a multi-car crash at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend.

Denny Hamlin told Sirius/XM's Dialed In show that he caught his right hand in the steering wheel and hurt it in the same wreck that broke Truex's wrist with 52 laps to go.

Hamlin said he's currently wearing a splint on his thumb, which is black and blue, but expected the injury to heal within two weeks.

"I couldn't get my finger out of the wheel quick enough before it spun, and it obviously took some ligaments with it," Hamlin said. "I feel this pain, and it's going to be tough. I tested on Monday and Tuesday at Chicago, and I couldn't put my thumb on the wheel."

Joe Gibbs Racing spokesman Chris Helein says Hamlin's hand is "just sprained" and is unsure whether Hamlin will wear a splint during the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday night.

Hamlin took to Twitter Thursday night to reassure his fans:

Hamlin said Truex's injury — a broken wrist that required a cast — was much worse. But Hamlin has already had a tough season with injuries; he broke his back during a crash into the inside wall on the last lap of the March 24 race at Auto Club Speedway and has been dealing with unrelated back issues all year.

"It's just a major jam, more ligament stuff," Hamlin said of his hand. "Mine will heal in no time. It's just a different severity of it (between him and Truex)."

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