Hamlin Grapples with Heartbreak as larson claims Championship on Historic Night
PHOENIX, AZ – November 3, 2024 – Denny Hamlin was left to reflect on another agonizing near-miss as Kyle Larson secured the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship in a dramatic finale at Phoenix Raceway. The race concluded on the 30th anniversary of Jeff Gordon delivering Hendrick Motorsports’ first championship in 1995, adding another layer of significance to Larson’s victory. Hamlin, who led a race-high 208 of 319 laps and started from the pole, saw his championship hopes dashed by a late-race caution and larson’s relentless pursuit.
This defeat marks the sixth time a title has slipped away from Hamlin in his 20-year career with Joe Gibbs Racing. Despite a dominant performance, a strategic gamble by his team to take four tires during a crucial pit stop proved insufficient to overcome the advantage gained by Larson and competitors who opted for only two.
“Nothing I could do diffrent,” a visibly disappointed Hamlin stated after the race. “I mean,prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend and my team gave me a fantastic car. Just didn’t work out. I was just praying ‘no caution’ and we had one there. What can you do? It’s just not meant to be.”
Hamlin’s championship pursuit has been plagued by misfortune in previous finales, experiencing heartbreak in 2010, 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Sunday’s race represented his first opportunity to compete in the winner-take-all championship race in four seasons.
Despite the disappointment, Hamlin acknowledged the correct call made by crew chief Chris Gayle regarding the tire strategy. Though, the decision by other teams to take only two tires ultimately created a gap too large to close in the remaining laps.
Meanwhile,larson and Hendrick Motorsports celebrated their sixth Cup Series championship. Team owner Rick Hendrick, Gordon, and Larson’s crew chief Cliff Daniels admitted they had doubts about Larson’s chances after a series of challenges during the race.
“I have to acknowledge that it was a pretty ugly day for us,” Daniels said. “I think we were beat on raw pace, and after we had the flat tire, there wasn’t a lot of good things coming our way. The way the team stuck together and continued to believe in each other, Kyle continued to believe if we just had a shot we could close it out.”
