Larson wins 2nd NASCAR championship, denying Hamlin in OT

Contents of the article

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Larson knew he couldn't catch Denny Hamlin in the closing laps on Sunday without the help that only a caution flag could bring.

Contents of the article

Larson was lucky.

Contents of the article

Contents of the article

Hamlin received only grief.

Larson is now a two-time NASCAR champion after denying Hamlin what would have been his first career title when a late caution at Phoenix Raceway sent the championship-clinching finale into overtime.

Without that caution, which required three laps to go, Hamlin locked it out and was ready to finally shed his title as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win the championship. But fellow title contender William Byron suffered a flat tire and crashed into the wall to show a warning, and within minutes it was all over.

“It’s just incredible,” Larson said. “I can't believe it.”

Hamlin couldn't either.

“I don't have a lot of emotions right now. I'm just numb because I'm just in shock,” Hamlin said as he consoled his crying daughters on pit road. “We were 40 seconds away from the championship. This sport can make you crazy because sometimes the speed, the talent – none of that matters.”

Contents of the article

Contents of the article

When the warning came for Byron, Hamlin led the field down pit road and bought four new tires for his Toyota; Larson only carried two tires on his Chevrolet. This meant Larson was fifth in the sprint with two laps to go, and Hamlin was back in 10th place.

With so little time to pass Larson, Hamlin failed to finish in sixth place, with Larson finishing third. Ryan Blaney, who dropped out of title contention last week, won the race.

This is the second championship for Larson, who won his first title in 2021 when he joined Hendrick Motorsports.

While Larson celebrated, Hamlin sat motionless in his car for several seconds, then wiped his face with a white towel, showing no emotion.

Larson, who went through a slump after his failure to race the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, was also in shock.

Contents of the article

“We didn't lead a lap and won the championship,” Larson said. “We had an average car at best and our right front tire went out, we lost a lap and went around a wave and were saved by being careful around the wave. It's just incredible. What a year this motorsport team has had.”

When Hamlin finally exited the car, he hugged his team members, but it caused a scene of disbelief among the Joe Gibbs Racing crowd. The team members were crying, some were sitting on the sidewalk in shock, Gibbs himself was silent, his hand on his hip, a look of disbelief on his face.

This is the sixth title shot that has eluded Hamlin in his 20 years driving for Gibbs. He led 208 of 319 laps and started from pole.

“I couldn't have done anything differently. I mean, I prepared as best I could for the weekend and my team gave me a fantastic car,” Hamlin said. “It just didn't work out. I was just praying that there were no precautions and we had this opportunity. What can you do? It just shouldn't happen.”

Contents of the article

He said crew chief Chris Gayle made the right call with four tires, but too many others only needed two, creating too much of a gap for Hamlin to close on Larson in such a short time.

The 44-year-old Virginia native has been heavily jinxed in his five previous championship finals, with bad luck, bad strategy and bad cars breaking his heart in 2010, 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2021. On Sunday, he qualified for the first time in four seasons to compete in the winner-take-all race.

Hamlin was remarkably relaxed and calm all week, renting three houses in Scottsdale for 30 friends and family, winning the pole and then dominating Sunday's race.

He just didn't close the case.

“Man, if you can’t win this one, I don’t know which one you can win,” Hamlin said.

Larson felt fine during the race but hasn't won since early May, a slump that has now extended to 24 straight races.

Contents of the article

Hamlin's teammate Chase Briscoe finished 18th in his championship finale debut, and Larson's teammate Byron was 33rd after his late release. He felt terrible about missing out on Hamlin's chance even though his Hendrick Motorsports teammate won the championship.

“I'm just really upset that it was a warning, obviously. I hate it. I hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11th team,” Byron said. “I mean, Denny was on his way to it. I hate it. There's a lot of respect for that. I obviously don't want to call out the caution. If I knew what the tire was, knew the tire was going to fail before I got to the turn, I would have done something different.”

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analytics. Want to place a bet? Head to our sports betting section for news and chances.

Contents of the article