In the exciting prelude to the NASCAR final, Denny Hamlin is poised to challenge his current status as the best driver without a championship. Hamlin, in his twentieth full season, secured the pole position at Phoenix Raceway, marking the start of the final race where the champion will be decided. The title will be contested between Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron and Kyle Larson, both from 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, number 60 in his career, secured him a place in the final and has allowed him to prepare calmly.
The pilot has remained calm, joking and enjoying the atmosphere before the most important race of his life. Hamlin has gathered a group of friends and family, approximately 30 people, who share three rented houses in the Phoenix area. With a lap time of 133.759 mph in his Toyota, Hamlin secured the starting position, giving him the advantage of choosing his pit stall, a crucial decision to avoid speeding penalties. Despite the good run, Hamlin is aware that he might be peaking too soon.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 so full
Hamlin
Hamlin has lost the championship on at least six previous occasions, so the expectation of a change of luck is high.No problem!
Hamlin
Larson is the only driver in contention for the championship 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 qualified second with 133.551, and Larson third with 133.437 in their Chevrolets. Briscoe placed 12th, the lowest of the title contenders, with 132.680.You can only control the things you can control. Obviously, we will do our best during 312 laps. I hope it will be enough.
Hamlin
Honestly, I felt it was a very bad lap I did. I was a little surprised that it was even 12th place to some extent
Briscoe
This could be the sixth time Hamlin has the opportunity to win the championship, and so far, he has not been successful. Hamlin spun in the 2010 final, a bad pit stop in 2014, overheated because the team put too much tape on the front grille in 2019, and strategy or lack of speed cost him in 2020 and 2021.
Hamlin has become the favorite, and even his competitors recognize that a championship for Hamlin would be well received.
