rifan muazinPhoenix, Arizona – The roar of the crowd at Phoenix Raceway after Kyle Larson secured his second NASCAR Cup Series championship was undeniably loud, yet it was tinged with a palpable sense of commiseration for Denny Hamlin. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who dominated a significant portion of the season finale, saw his championship aspirations evaporate in the closing laps, a scenario that overshadowed the jubilation of his competitor and left many in the sport echoing Hamlin’s own assessment: "terrible."
Larson’s victory, achieved through a bold two-tire strategy on the final restart, came after Hamlin, who had led 208 laps of the scheduled 312-lap race, opted for four tires. The overtime period, extended to 318 laps due to a late tire failure and subsequent crash by fellow Championship 4 contender William Byron, proved to be Hamlin’s undoing. This marks the second time Larson has bested Hamlin for the ultimate prize in NASCAR Cup Series racing, the previous instance occurring in 2021 under similar dramatic circumstances involving a late caution and a decisive final restart.
Despite the personal triumph, Larson acknowledged the overshadowing narrative of Hamlin’s defeat. "The most unfortunate part of how everything went down on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race is that the bitter defeat of Denny Hamlin superseded any kind of celebration for Kyle Larson," Larson stated. He elaborated on Hamlin’s gracious post-race conduct, noting, "I thought to myself, ‘there is no chance Denny is going to come out’ on Sunday because I wouldn’t want to and don’t think anyone would want to. But he did come out and I think it shows how big of a person he is and how strong he is to do that."
Hamlin, a veteran driver with a significant career win total but still seeking his first Cup Series championship, expressed his dismay at the shift in attention away from Larson’s accomplishment. "I hate that the attention has shifted away from him," Hamlin remarked. "He’s definitely a deserving champion. There is a difference between ‘deserving’ and ‘should have been,’ right? Not one person should question his deserving-ness of being a champion. That’s what I don’t like to see. He is a great friend of mine and I was happy for him. And going to go see him and tell him that was important to me as a friend. I had to separate my feelings from my friendship and go show up."
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The sentiment of Hamlin "should have been" the champion resonated across the garage. William Byron, whose No. 24 Chevrolet experienced a tire failure that led to the crucial caution, offered a direct apology to Hamlin. "It just doesn’t seem right," Byron said during the post-race press conference. "Yeah, I mean, I think just kind of seeing him, he had beat us, and we’re running second, four laps to go, you go into the wall and cause a caution. It sucks, right? I don’t want to be that guy, even if I’m in the Championship 4. Doesn’t really matter. Don’t want to change the outcome. So it sucks."
The emotional toll of the loss was evident, and the outpouring of empathy for Hamlin extended beyond the Cup Series ranks. Corey Heim, who clinched the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, shared his perspective. A development driver for 23XI Racing, Hamlin’s team owner, and a self-proclaimed longtime fan of Hamlin, Heim found the outcome difficult to witness. "That was a tough watch," Heim commented. "I talked to him right before driver intros and he was very confident as he should have been. I grew up a Denny fan, but even if I hadn’t, that was just terrible. That is a terrible way for anyone to lose a championship."
Jesse Love, the newly crowned NASCAR Xfinity Series champion and a driver who has developed a friendship with Hamlin over the past three years, echoed Heim’s sentiments. "That was definitely heartbreaking for sure," Love stated. "I saw him after the race, and it was just heartbreaking, even if it’s part of the sport. I do not even remotely know how to process what he must be going through. I feel like growing up and racing with my dad, just like he did, I feel like I understand a little what this would have meant to him. He’s also been a good friend and has given me good advice and I appreciate someone like Denny a lot."
Hamlin, known for his often provocative on-track persona and engagement with fans on social media, found himself the recipient of widespread respect and support following the race. His teammate and fellow Championship 4 finalist, Chase Briscoe, attempted to lighten the mood in the immediate aftermath. "They really love you," Briscoe reportedly told Hamlin. Briscoe further elaborated on the respect Hamlin commands within the sport. "I think everyone acknowledges that Denny is an incredible race car driver that is more than deserving to win a championship," Briscoe said. "I mean, if you just look at accolades and stats, I mean, he should be a champion in our sport and I think everybody knows that and wants to see him actually succeed in that."
Briscoe also highlighted the human element of the sport that was on full display. "How everyone responded to that after the race, it didn’t surprise me, because it just goes to show the human element of our sport. You look at him huddling with the team, his grief, and how much this obviously meant to him, it didn’t surprise me that people reacted to him the way they have."
For his part, Hamlin expressed gratitude for the supportive messages, though he admitted the pain of the loss remains raw. "I try to look at it but it’s just pain," Hamlin said. "I can only look at it for a minute or two before I get in my feelings. I love our fans and they have been very very supportive of me the last few weeks and this weekend. But again, my friend won a championship and I do want to be happy for him too."
Larson’s championship marks his second in three years, solidifying his position as one of NASCAR’s elite drivers. However, the narrative of the 2024 season finale will undoubtedly be intertwined with the poignant image of Hamlin’s near-miss, a testament to the razor-thin margins and inherent drama of championship racing. The focus now shifts to how Hamlin will regroup and contend in the upcoming seasons, with the championship drought continuing to be a defining aspect of his otherwise stellar career.
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