Denny Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team missed a crucial opportunity to earn points in Las Vegas, even though Hamlin felt they had a car capable of winning. They didn’t collect any stage points and ended the race in 16th place following a challenging day.
The turning points for Hamlin came early in the race when he spun while pushing for stage points and chose to pit from the lead. He later clarified that driving in the high groove, which was still covered in loose tire debris, caused the spin. The decision to pit was difficult since the tire advantage was not large enough to quickly regain position.
On the show Actions Detrimental, Hamlin admitted he wasn’t fully aware of the race situation during that first stage, especially Kyle Larson’s early handling problems and his long pit stop that left Larson a lap down. “If I had known where Larson was, I likely wouldn’t have gone up there,” Hamlin said. “I had no clue—if I knew Larson was a lap down and would get his lap back when I pitted, I wouldn’t have come down pit road, regardless of what my crew chief said.”
Later in the season, at the Charlotte Roval, Hamlin was again blindsided when Ross Chastain collided with him on the final lap while chasing an extra position needed to advance in the playoffs. Hamlin had no idea about the stakes at the time and had a frank discussion with his team afterward.
Ultimately, Hamlin lost the championship at Phoenix when Larson took just two tires on the final pit stop while Hamlin opted for four, relinquishing the lead. Despite this, Hamlin defended his team’s approach, emphasizing their focus on delivering the fastest car based on his feedback rather than reacting to competitors’ strategies. “They’re calling my race, not listening to announcers breaking down Larson’s race,” he explained. He acknowledged they need to improve their awareness of competitors’ actions and respond better in the future.
Hamlin accepted full responsibility for the spin and car damage, believing without the mishap his day would have still been very successful, as no one was matching his pace. He called the car “definitely race-winning.” As the Chase reaches its midpoint, Hamlin trails Larson by 40 points, with Larson maintaining an impressive 2.2 average finish in playoff races, even managing a second-place finish after crashing in Vegas. Hamlin faces a tough climb to close the gap unless he can start winning races.
Fan Take: This story highlights just how critical situational awareness and split-second decisions are in NASCAR, especially during the playoffs. For fans, it underscores the intensity and unpredictability of the chase, where one moment can shift the championship landscape, keeping the sport thrilling and fiercely competitive.
Source: www.motorsport.com
