Denny Hamlin, piloting the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry, saw his ambition for the championship evaporate late at the Denny Hamlin NASCAR grand final in Phoenix, after a dramatic incident involving William Byron upended the race‘s outcome. Hamlin, considered a frontrunner for the title, lost his position in the final laps, marking a heartbreaking end to his intense pursuit in one of stock car racing’s most crucial events.
Late-Race Twist Alters Championship Fate
The race seemed firmly in Hamlin’s control until William Byron crashed his #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro with just three laps remaining, triggering a pivotal caution. Amid the chaos, some competitors opted to stay out while most—including Hamlin—headed for pit road. The critical decision to take on four fresh tyres instead of two shaped the closing moments, leaving Hamlin caught out by strategy as the field reset for a final sprint.
Kyle Larson, driving the #5 Hendrick Camaro, gained track position, restarted in fifth, and ultimately secured a third-place finish, while Hamlin managed only sixth. Despite leading 208 out of 319 laps, Hamlin’s bid for the title ended in disappointment as the championship contenders were all plagued by tyre issues throughout the event.
Personal Stakes and Lingering Struggles
Entering the season’s biggest race, Hamlin faced more than competitive pressure. A significant legal dispute with NASCAR lingered in the background, but his father’s grave illness weighed heaviest. Hamlin revealed that this event represented his final opportunity to win the series with his father still alive, intensifying the emotions surrounding the outcome.
I really don’t have much for emotion right now,
Hamlin said, his feelings raw immediately after the finish.
“Just numb about it ’cause just in shock. That’s about it.”
In a moment of weariness, he added,
In this moment, I never want to race a car ever again,
flashing a wry smile.
I mean, my fun meter is pegged.
Tyre Woes and Unpredictable Turns
All four championship contenders experienced tyre problems. Early in the contest, a spin by Shane van Gisbergen in the #88 Chevrolet Camaro on lap 46 prompted caution and coincided with a left rear tyre issue on Hamlin’s car. Moments like these kept tension high as both Chase Briscoe, in the #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Camry, and Larson later encountered similar tyre mishaps. While Hamlin lost ground due to these setbacks, he tenaciously fought back from outside the top ten.
Of his Joe Gibbs Racing crew, Hamlin showed gratitude, noting their skill despite the adversity: “They did a great job.” He reflected,
“We had one hiccup, but it wasn’t their fault. We got fortunate with the left rear tyre that was flat under caution. They executed a great day.”
He added,
“Man, I really wish I could have got it for them.”
Yet, he admitted,
“[It] wouldn’t have changed anything I felt truly about myself. I wanted it so bad for everyone else, all of my supporters, all my friends and family and whatnot, that they want it so bad. Just not going to happen. Did the best I could. Everything I really prepared for happened today. I felt like we responded. Even losing track position at one point, just battling back. The team brought a great championship car. I felt like I drove it just right up until two laps to go.”
Agonizing Final Moments and Reflections on Fortune
Hamlin described the sting of coming so close to the title, only for an unexpected crash to change everything.
Yeah, this is the part that stinks.
Hamlin admitted disbelief at the sudden shift, stating,
Well, I mean, we’re 40 seconds from a championship,
highlighting how quickly the situation unraveled.
He reflected,
“I don’t know. It’s just unfortunate. The only difference before is the cautions came maybe a little sooner than that. Gosh, you work so hard.”
His voice conveyed the emotional toll as he observed,
This sport can drive you absolutely crazy, ’cause sometimes speed, talent, all that stuff, just does not matter.
Race Strategies and Challenging Decisions
For the race’s final segment, Hamlin believed his decision to take four tyres could still push him forward against those who opted for just two.
I didn’t think it was over. I thought, well, all right, let me see where the other guys are at,
he recounted, analyzing the unpredictable pit strategies.
“Surely they can’t jump too far in front of me. I just didn’t think there would be that many cars that took two tyres. It’s really hard to predict how many cars are going to do what, things like that. But I didn’t think it was over.”
He admitted the daunting task he faced after the restart, saying,
When I lined up [on] row five, I thought, it will be difficult, for sure.
The Aftermath and What Lies Ahead
The dramatic finish at Phoenix left Hamlin with more questions than answers, and his dream of clinching a title in front of his ailing father slips further from reach. The outcome underscores how unpredictable the Denny Hamlin NASCAR grand final can be, with strategy and fortune intertwining until the last moment. As the dust settles, Hamlin’s resilience and pain illustrate the razor-thin margin between victory and heartbreak in top-level stock car racing, leaving fans and competitors alike reflecting on a season’s worth of effort decided in mere seconds.
