Denny Hamlin’s #11 FedEx Toyota had a great start to today’s race, running at or near the front for most of the first 2/3rds of the race. However, he was soon felled by an ancient ritual done to satisfy Motro, the ancient God of Racing, also known as a “blown engine”.
“Our number came up on the dark roulette wheel of fate, and it was up to us to make the sacrifice”, Hamlin said upon stepping out of his smoking car. “Motro gives and Motro takes away, and today, we were the ones taken away from. But we know the deal, so we do so humbly and gratefully.”
Motro will usually be offered a sacrificial racing engine roughly once a week, having claimed the engine of Jamie McMurray last week at Dover. Hamlin had avoided the dark roulette of fate for over two years.
“There’s really only three things that allow us to race—the fans, the sponsors, and Motro. Without Motro’s guidance none of this”, Hamlin said, gesturing around the garage, “would be here. We make this sacrifice hoping that it will be enough and that we may win next weekend at Kansas.”
In a related story, several other Chase drivers were seen cursing Motro upon exiting the infield care center.