Denny Hamlin’s championship hopes at Phoenix Raceway took a controversial turn when his crew chief, Chris Gayle, opted for a four-tire change during the overtime restart, a choice that has ignited fierce debate across NASCAR. With the Denny Hamlin championship Phoenix decision at the center, opinions are divided about whether the strategy cost him a career-defining win.
High Stakes and Strategic Choices Unravel Hamlin’s Bid
Sunday’s championship event at Phoenix was Denny Hamlin’s standout opportunity to finally secure a long-sought title. Driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin dominated by leading 208 laps and looked in peak form to claim victory. However, an unexpected crash involving William Byron triggered a late overtime restart, disrupting Hamlin’s momentum at a critical moment.
Facing strong competition, Chris Gayle, Hamlin’s crew chief, decided to take four new tires for the final restart. In contrast, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson, along with others, took just two tires or stayed on track. This left Hamlin starting from the fifth row while Larson, who ultimately became the title-winner, lined up well ahead. The pit decision proved difficult to overcome, as Hamlin could not recover the positions lost in those few final laps.
Drivers and Spotters Weigh In on the Controversial Call
Conversations quickly erupted in the racing community and media. On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft, spotter for Bubba Wallace, scrutinized the high-pressure call by Hamlin’s crew:
“I think there’s a lot of Monday morning quarterbacks saying Gayle should have done two[tires]. Obviously in the hindsight, yes, he probably should have done two. For Gayle, he just put four on and it worked out, he took the lead off a turn too essentially, on the first lap, so I got the best car, I’m going to fire four on it and let my guy go execute a restart like he just did and win the championship.” – Freddie Kraft, Spotter
“So I don’t even know that even if Lambert told him these guys are coming on two, he probably said, ‘All right. I don’t give a sh*t, like we’re gonna go beat him like we just did,” he added. – Freddie Kraft, Spotter
This view highlights the intense decision-making environment in the pit box and the gamble Gayle was willing to take, banking on Hamlin’s prior performance during the race and the fresh tires to give him a late-race boost.
Reflections from the Team and Owner
In the aftermath, Chris Gayle was candid about the outcome, conceding that the championship slipped away at Phoenix yet reiterating his admiration for Hamlin’s performance throughout the season. Underlining the sense of loss, team owner Joe Gibbs spoke about the profound disappointment experienced by the Joe Gibbs Racing team:
“We really did this. It’s a heartbreak for everybody here, so I don’t think there’s much else you can say about it.” – Joe Gibbs, Team Owner
The No. 11 team finished as the most successful in the series this year, boasting six race victories and 14 finishes within the top five. Despite their strong results, the crew had to settle for second place in the final standings.
Reactions Across NASCAR
Kyle Larson, who secured the championship win, acknowledged that his victory came under unusual circumstances, noting that he had not led a single lap throughout the 319-lap contest and his last win had been months prior at Kansas Speedway. The emotional fallout affected not only Hamlin and his team but resonated across the sport, igniting debates on strategy and fate within NASCAR.
The Road Ahead for Hamlin and Crew
While the strategy call at Phoenix remains a focal point for scrutiny, the season’s results further cement Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing’s place as elite competitors. As the team reflects on the Denny Hamlin championship Phoenix decision, questions persist about how close they came to a title and what changes might unfold ahead of next season. Across the racing world, the event underscores how NASCAR championships can be decided in just a single lap, a single pit call, or a single bold gamble under the highest pressure.
Did the best driver win the championship? 🏁🤷♂️
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