The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of Defeat
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after finish first of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 drivers to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
By Dennis Krause
That signature phrase from the intro of ABC’s Wide World of Sports has become cliche over the many years since it was first used. But it accurately describes the championship-deciding season finale of NASCAR’s Cup Series, Sunday, at Phoenix Raceway.
The thrill of victory was experienced by Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson, who by virtue of a third-place finish in the race won by Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, captured his second Cup Series title, in a race he did not lead a lap.
The agony of defeat was suffered by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, who was comfortably leading the race as he had all day and headed for what had been an elusive first Cup Series championship, only to have the yellow come out with three laps remaining in the contest.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the NO. 11 Progressive Toyota, exits pit road during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
During the ensuing caution period, three cars elected to stay out, six, including Larson, chose to change two tires while Hamlin’s crew opted for four fresh Goodyears all around.
Restarting ninth in the two-lap overtime, Hamlin was unable to catch and pass Larson, thus losing his best chance for a title in his 20-year Cup Series career.
“Never did I feel like I had it,” Larson admitted. “I was honestly surprised people stayed out. I thought I was going to line up on the front row with Ryan. This is going to be good, he can choose the bottom. I know what to expect into (turn) one with grip. When they said a few of them stayed out, I was like, Oh, no, this is not good.
“I was able to line up behind Alex (Bowman), just run really hard through (turns) one and two and get the clean air I needed.
“My hope was that Denny was not going to get a great one and two. I thought with four fresh tires, he might get through there well. We might be side by side. I thought that’s how it would net out off of two.
“I got a better one and two than I expected,” Larson explained. “Then yeah, for a bit I thought I was going to win. They were going kind of crazy on the radio, my spotter was, telling me that the 11 (Hamlin) was kind of jammed up back there.
“I was going to be committed to the outside lane. I felt like that was going to be my best opportunity to find clean air, maintain momentum. Yeah, was just trying not to crash there at the end.
“I still wanted to win really bad. It’s been a while. I was trying what I could to win the race. But yeah, we did what we had to do to win the championship. Just insane. Insane circumstances to get us to this point.”
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, reacts after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
It was the fifth time in Hamlin’s career that he’s finished second or third in the Cup Series standings. But this time was different.
“Well, I mean, we’re 40 seconds from a championship,” Hamlin said. “I don’t know. It’s just unfortunate.
“The only difference before is the cautions came maybe a little sooner than that. I don’t know. Gosh, you work so hard. This sport can drive you absolutely crazy ’cause sometimes speed, talent, all that stuff, just does not matter.
“Did the best I could,” Hamlin continued. “Everything I really prepared for happened today. I felt like we responded. Even losing track position at one point, just battling back. Did really well on restarts. Hadn’t been good on restarts for the bulk of the year.
“Yeah, the team brought a great championship car. I felt like I drove it just right up until two laps to go. Yeah, this is the part that stinks.”
While Larson was understandably excited to win the championship, he couldn’t but feel for his rival, with whom he’s become good friends.
“I mean, it was all so wild and crazy. I had all the elation, obviously, because we had just accomplished something that was not on our radar for a lot of it. I was so happy and thrilled. Celebrated with my team on the backstretch. Went to the frontstretch to do my celebrating, interviews, whatnot.
“I got done and I could see his car and team and him doing interviews. It kind of hit me like, Oh, man, I can’t imagine what he’s feeling right now.
“We’ve all gone through our own defeats,” Larson went on. “I really can’t imagine what he’s feeling. It’s got to be something completely different than I ever felt before through any of my defeats.
“Yeah, I had another opportunity to give an interview. I just wanted to let everybody know how I felt. Again, he’s a great competitor. He’s a good friend. In 20 years of trying, getting so close, I just…
“There’s definitely a large piece of me that feels really bad and sad. But at the same point, I’m happy. It’s such a weird feeling. When you don’t win the race, you don’t lead a lap, you win the championship, you steal it from a guy who has tried for so long and had it in his fingertips, it’s a really weird feeling.”
What Hamlin was feeling, was numbness. On a day when he did everything right, it still wasn’t enough.
“Kyle Larson has the trophy, but we dominated. We did our job. We did the best we could.
“They’re a championship team and a championship driver. They’re going to win a hell of a lot more than just these two. When everyone had to bring their best, I think it was evident who was the best today.
“The last couple times I’ve been doing this, either wasn’t fast enough, or circumstances. There were some untimely yellows in the last time I did this.
“Yeah, I’m not really sure. Just takes all of a sudden everything we did preparing was right, where we guessed was right, and just didn’t work out, which is crazy.”
Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after finish first of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 drivers to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
The thrill of victory for Kyle Larson.
“I don’t think any of us foresaw us getting a second championship in the fashion that we did today. That probably makes it seem even different.
“Nonetheless, we’re on the list two times. That’s something to be proud of.”
The agony of defeat for Denny Hamlin.
“In this moment I never want to race a car ever again (smiling). I mean, my fun meter is pegged.
“I really don’t have much for emotion right now,” Hamlin said. “Just numb about it ’cause just in shock. That’s about it.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.