AVONDALE, Ariz. — When William Byron hit the Flip 3 wall with bone-jarring impression on Lap 310 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Collection Championship Race, the intestine punch it delivered to Denny Hamlin was exponentially extra painful.
The ensuing warning and strategic name by crew chief Cliff Daniels allowed Kyle Larson to grab the Cup Collection championship from Hamlin with out main a lap at Phoenix Raceway.
Larson completed third behind race winner Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski to say his second title in NASCAR’s high division and the fifteenth for group proprietor Rick Hendrick as the very best finisher among the many Championship 4 drivers — Hamlin, Byron and Chase Briscoe.
It was the fifteenth Cup championship for group proprietor Rick Hendrick, and it got here with a significant plot twist within the remaining stage.
With the scheduled 312 laps winding down, Hamlin led Byron by practically three seconds and appeared headed for the primary Cup title in his 20 full-time seasons behind the wheel of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
In dominant trend, Hamlin led seven instances for 207 laps. Although he battled a balky clutch and rallied from a flat left-rear tire after successful the second stage, he didn’t win the championship for the fifth time below the elimination Playoff format.
As a substitute, it was Larson who acquired the Invoice France Cup, virtually in disbelief.
“Truthfully, I can’t consider it,” Larson mentioned. “Like, we didn’t lead a lap as we speak. By some means gained the championship. I imply, actually, I’m simply speechless. I can’t consider it. We had a mean automobile at greatest.”
After Byron’s wreck, which despatched the race to extra time, Daniels opted for 2 right-side tires for the second straight pit cease. Hamlin pitted from the lead and took contemporary rubber on all 4 corners.
However with Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Alex Bowman staying out on older tires, and Blaney, Larson, Joey Logano, Josh Berry, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott taking proper sides solely, Hamlin lined up tenth for the extra time restart—5 spots behind Larson—and selected the underside row for the ultimate run.
From the surface lane, Larson charged by way of the primary two corners and maintained a spot between his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Hamlin’s Camry. On the ultimate lap, Hamlin misplaced momentum on the underside in Turns 1 and a couple of and couldn’t recuperate.
He completed sixth, as Blaney edged Keselowski by 0.097 seconds for the race win.
Larson received the arrogance he wanted on the primary two-tire name below warning on Lap 281. He restarted second beside Briscoe and was capable of keep fifth place earlier than Byron hit the wall.
“We had the correct entrance go down (earlier), misplaced a lap,” Larson mentioned. “Bought saved by the warning. Did the wave-around. Was actually dangerous that run. We took two tires. I used to be like, “Oh, God, right here we go. We’re going to go to the again now.’
“It had much more grip than I anticipated. We received fortunate with the ultimate warning. I used to be actually hoping we have been going to take two once more. I felt like I discovered so much on that restart, bombing (Turns) 1 and a couple of actually arduous. Thought I might do the identical factor if we received one other one.
“Simply unbelievable. What a 12 months by this Hendrick Motorsports (group). Cliff Daniels, all people, his management, his full management simply confirmed that entire race. Protecting us all motivated. At all times having a plan. All of that. That’s simply the story of our season.
“Once more, simply unbelievable. I can’t consider it. That is insane.”
Likely, Hamlin would agree. He and his group introduced the quickest automobile to Phoenix and executed a near-flawless race. The clutch situation and flat left-rear tire have been challenges the No.11 group overcame with out panicking.
However the championship eluded Hamlin as soon as once more.
“Did the most effective I might,” Hamlin mentioned. “Every part I actually ready for occurred as we speak. I felt like we responded. Even shedding monitor place at one level, simply battling again. Did very well on restarts. Hadn’t been good on restarts for the majority of the 12 months.
“Yeah, the group introduced an excellent championship automobile. I felt like I drove it excellent up till two laps to go. Yeah, that is the half that stinks…
“Golly, on this second I by no means need to race a automobile ever once more,” Hamlin mentioned with a wry smile. “I imply, my enjoyable meter is pegged.”
Blaney’s win was virtually an afterthought, nevertheless it additionally was tantalizingly near a second championship for the motive force of the No. 12 Staff Penske Ford. Blaney completed second to Byron in a must-win scenario final Sunday at Martinsville Speedway—one spot away from qualifying for the Championship 4.
“It’s simply cool to finish it on a very good observe,” Blaney mentioned. “It’s simply cool, and clearly we had a quick automobile all day. These different guys (Hamlin and Byron) have been simply sort of quicker getting going, and I might by no means retain the lead.
“These guys have been simply actually good, and it took my automobile some time to return in, nevertheless it was a extremely good name for 2 (tires) there and conserving monitor place. I received a good restart, and I used to be capable of sort of roll the underside in (Turns) 3 and 4 and eke the 6 (Keselowski) out on the line.”
Byron, who completed thirty third after main 52 laps and successful the primary stage, expressed sympathy for Hamlin, despite the fact that the Lap 310 accident gave his teammate the possibility to win the title.
“I’m simply tremendous bummed that it was a warning, clearly,” Byron mentioned. “I hate that. Hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11 group.
“I’m comfortable for Kyle, for Mr. Hendrick, they deserve it. Yeah, it stinks, proper? I don’t know, three laps to go, I’m considering, ‘Let me get to the top.’
“I felt one thing humorous off of two, thought it is likely to be a flat. I assumed on the time if it’s left rear, you’ll be able to sort of get again. It simply went straight into (Flip) 3. Laid down on the correct rear, went straight (into the wall). I hate that.”
Briscoe rallied from flat tires twice on Sunday, restarted fifteenth in extra time and completed 18th.
In a race that featured 9 cautions for 65 laps, Logano completed fourth, adopted by Busch and Hamlin. Berry, Michael McDowell, Preece, Elliott and Christopher Bell accomplished the highest 10.
Blaney led 20 laps in securing his fourth win of the season and the seventeenth of his profession. The win was his first at Phoenix after three straight runner-up finishes within the Championship Race. In 2023, nevertheless, second place was adequate to earn Blaney his solely collection title thus far.
