Hamlin Seeks to Crown His Career in the NASCAR Final
Denny Hamlin, in his twentieth full season, is on the verge of changing his status as the best NASCAR driver without a championship. Hamlin achieved the pole position at Phoenix Raceway, preparing for the final race where the championship will be decided. The Cup title will be contested between Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron and Kyle Larson, both of Hendrick Motorsports. Hamlin will lead the grid in the decisive race, having achieved six victories this season, a record in the series. His triumph in Las Vegas last month secured him a place in the final, giving him three weeks to fine-tune his car and strategy.Hamlin has remained calm and in good spirits, treating the race like any other week in Phoenix, although with more anticipation. He has a large group of friends and family sharing three rental houses in the area.“I think the advantage was winning in Las Vegas because I was able to get a lot of work done before this week. That way, this week isn’t as busy,” Hamlin said.
Denny Hamlin
After clocking a time of 133.759 mph in his Toyota, Hamlin secured the first starting position, giving him the advantage of choosing the pit stall. However, the driver is aware that he might be peaking too early.
Larson is the only driver in the final who already has a title, while Byron, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, is competing in the final for the third consecutive year. Briscoe will make his debut in the title race, and Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, returns to the final for the first time since 2021. Byron and Larson qualified in second and third place respectively. Briscoe, for his part, was located in twelfth position.“I feel like, honestly, it was a really bad lap that I did,” Briscoe commented. “I was a little surprised to be in 12th to a certain extent.”
Chase Briscoe
This is at least the sixth time in Hamlin’s career that he has the opportunity to win the championship, and so far, he has not been successful. Hamlin has become the public’s favorite, and even his competitors recognize that it would be well received if Hamlin won the championship.
Briscoe added: “I think it would be a shame, right?, that when he decides to retire, he’s the best who has never won, right? I think everyone knows he’s more than capable. I want Denny to win so he can have that on his resume.” Hamlin comes to the championship race after a crew chief change in the offseason that he opposed. Crew chief Chris Gayle was assigned to Hamlin, while Chris Gabehart moved to management. Hamlin did not want to lose Gabehart, the crew chief who has made the most of Hamlin’s potential in the last years of his career. Gayle adapted quickly, and could now be the team leader who finally leads Hamlin to a title.“Everyone loves a story like that, where someone is nearing the end of their career… I can see why people would root for him,” Larson said. “Obviously, I want to win. But it would be cool to see someone who has dedicated so much time to this sport and has been so close so many times. Sixty wins. Tomorrow I’m going to want to beat him, but it won’t kill me if he wins.”
Kyle Larson
Hamlin’s 60th victory tied him for 10th on the all-time wins list. He was urgently chasing the mark because it was his personal consolation prize for not having a Cup title and he wanted to do it before his father, who has a serious health problem, passed away. Hamlin stated that he desperately wants to win because “I know for sure that this is my last chance for my father to see it. I don’t want him to leave and never get to see the moment.”“There are four very good cars, very good teams, very good team bosses. I just want to win the race and be champion,” Gayle said. “It’s not necessarily something for me to come and give to Denny. Would it be extra sweet with Denny just because I know what he’s been through and been close? Yes. I don’t know if that changes anything.”
Chris Gayle
