NASCAR’s Denny Hamlin trying new treatment to avoid back surgery

Denny Hamlin said a new treatment is helping his injured back but the NASCAR driver won’t know until the season ends if he’ll still need surgery.

The driver of the No. 11 Toyota suffered a compression fracture in his lower back in a last-lap crash in March at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. He was sidelined for several weeks.

A new regimen of painkiller injections in his spine have helped, the Associated Press reported.

“These last two weeks, I’ve gotten some treatment done and I’ve felt as good as I did before the accident,” Hamlin said. “The 10 races before that, I felt horrible.

“I’m not 100% and I’m not going to be until February or January, and I’m not going to be until I have time to not be in a race car week in and week out,” said Hamlin, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing.

The crash occurred as Hamlin and Joey Logano were battling side-by-side for the win at Fontana. Hamlin’s car ended up hitting an infield wall head-on.

Hamlin said he and Logano still have not spoken since the accident, although Hamlin said Logano attempted to call him before NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup title playoff began Sept. 15. Logano, who drives for Penske Racing, is one of he 13 drivers in this year’s Chase.

“There just is nothing to say until there’s an apology” from Logano, Hamlin said.

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