In the NASCAR final, Denny Hamlin seeks to break the streak and be crowned champion, leaving behind the title of the best driver without a championship. In his twentieth full season, Hamlin secured the pole position at Phoenix Raceway for the final NASCAR race. The competition for the title will be decided between Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron and Kyle Larson, both from Hendrick Motorsports. Hamlin will lead the race after winning six races this season, the most wins, including the one in Las Vegas last month, which marked his 60th career victory. This victory secured him a place in the final, giving him three weeks to prepare. Hamlin seems relaxed and jokes about what could be the most important race of his life.
Hamlin, who has experienced various emotions in title races, including a serious attitude in 2010, has approached this week like any other in Phoenix. He has a group of about 30 friends and family who share three rental houses in the area. After registering a lap at 133.759 mph in his Toyota, Hamlin secured the first starting position, giving him the advantage of choosing the best pit stall and potentially avoiding speeding penalties. The fans supporting Hamlin have reason to be optimistic. However, there is a possibility that it is reaching its peak too soon.I think the benefit 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
Hamlin, who has lost the championship at least six times, could see his luck change on Sunday.No problem!
Hamlin
Larson is the only driver in the final who already has a title, while Byron, two-time Daytona 500 winner, competes in the final for the third consecutive year. Briscoe will make his debut in the title race, and Hamlin, 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, with speeds of 133.551 and 133.437. Briscoe placed 12th, the lowest among 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
I honestly felt it was a very bad lap I did. I was a bit surprised that I was even 12th.
Briscoe
This is at least the sixth time in Hamlin’s career that he has had the opportunity to win the championship, and so far, he has not succeeded. Hamlin struggled in the 2010 final, a bad pit stop in 2014, overheating 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 him would be well received.Everyone likes a story like that, where someone is near the end of their career, all that, I can see why people would root for it. Obviously, I want to win. But it would be great 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 badly, but it won’t kill me if he wins.
Larson
Hamlin faces the championship race after a crew chief change that he did not support. Joe Gibbs Racing was going to lose crew chief Chris Gayle if they didn’t move him, so he was assigned to Hamlin while Chris Gabehart was moved to management. Hamlin didn’t want to lose Gabehart, the crew chief who has brought out the best in Hamlin in the last years of his career, and openly criticized the decision. But Gayle adapted quickly, has taken a car to the final for the first time in his career, and could now be the team boss who finally leads Hamlin to a title.I think it would be a shame, wouldn’t it?, that when he decides to retire, he’s the best of all those who never won, right? I think everyone knows he’s more than capable.
Briscoe
Hamlin’s 60th victory tied him for 10th on the all-time wins list. He had been urgently pursuing 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, died. Hamlin stated that he wants to win on Sunday 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 really good cars, really good teams, really good team bosses. I just want to win the race and be the champion. It’s not necessarily something for me to come and get it for Denny. Would it be extra sweet with Denny just because I know what he’s been through and has been close? Yes. I don’t know if that changes anything.
Gayle
