MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Kyle Larson will be the driver to beat in next Sunday’s NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway as the driver with a season-high nine victories had already locked up his spot in the Championship 4 before Sunday’s cutoff race at Martinsville Speedway even began.
The final three drivers had to endure a wild and frantic Xfinity 500 to join Larson in the Championship 4.
Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott easily advanced by sweeping the first two stages in Sunday’s race. That gave him enough points to clinch, no matter where he finished at the checkered flag.
For Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr., however, both Joe Gibbs Racing drivers had to endure moments of high anxiety in a race that ended on Halloween night.
Hamlin’s anxiety began earlier in the day when his No. 11 Toyota failed pre-race technical inspection twice. That sent him to the back of the field to start Sunday’s race.
Before the race, Hamlin was confident that he could make up the lost ground and be in contention for the victory by the end of the race.
A shot at the win ended with less than 10 laps remaining when eventual winner Alex Bowman made contact with Hamlin’s Toyota, sending Hamlin’s car into the fourth turn wall.
Hamlin was furious at the end, blocked Bowman’s Chevy from celebrating the win at the finish line.
After cooling off, Hamlin was able to talk about why he was so confident that he could ultimately advance into the Championship 4.
“We’ve weren’t really strong on these short tracks,” Hamlin explained afterwards. “No matter how far we’re down in horsepower, how much better Hendrick cars are in general, we’re fighting and we’re clawing and we’re still finding ourselves with a shot to win each week.
“I knew that our 750 (horsepower) programs in general have just been a lot better than the 550 this year. Some of the advantages that the Chevys have, it’s not as big, it doesn’t show up as much on tracks like this. You’re able to just kind of finesse your way around the track.
“Obviously it wasn’t ideal starting in the back. I knew pretty early that after an adjustment or two it was a good enough car to go up there and contend.”
Hamlin will get a chance to battle it out with the best driver of the year, Larson.
“I’ve said for many, many weeks now that it would be a disservice if someone other than the two of us didn’t win,” Hamlin said, referring to Larson. “I mean, he’s obviously probably the most deserving over the course of the year that he’s had from start to finish.
“The format, you just never know. Nearly it all ended right there in turn three for silly reasons. That’s why I always preach about wish the sample size was bigger. You don’t have somebody else’s mistakes that can take you out of what you’ve done for the whole season.
“Certainly, I think when you look at the four that are in it, I think it’s the best four that you could possibly put in that race. I think all of them would be deserving champions. Obviously, Kyle would make the most sense.”
Conversely, Larson was happy to see Hamlin advance because of the competitiveness the driver from Virginia has shown this season.
“As Denny mentioned, the way we both performed throughout all the season, I’m glad to see us both with the opportunity to race for a championship as well as Chase and everything he’s kind of had to go through throughout this Playoffs,” Larson said. “I think the four most deserving teams are probably in the Final Four. I’m proud we were able to do it and look forward to battling everybody next week.”
Elliott gets a chance to defend his championship in next Sunday’s winner-take-all finale that will determine the NASCAR Cup Series champion.
“Certainly, hasn’t been pretty, but at the end of the day, having a shot next week is really all that matters,” Elliott said. “Frankly, I feel like you make it to Phoenix, it’s anybody’s game.
“Getting out there and being a part of the Final 4 is a really big deal. It’s really hard to do. I’m really proud of my team for continuing to push through and battle some adversity. Just keep fighting.
“I got a great group. I don’t want to go to battle with anybody else. Really proud of my group for not only today but just the whole run. Our guys are on Phoenix now. We can focus on going out there and putting together a solid race which I know we’re very much capable of doing. I’m excited for the opportunity.”
Truex was the last driver to advance on Sunday, and he drove the final 60 laps with damage to his car that could have caused a flat tire on the right front of his Toyota.
“I was really worried as soon as it first happened because I felt like the contact was very, very minimal,” Truex said. “I felt the tire pulling on the steering wheel, so I knew I had a tire rub. I obviously seen the smoke. I was really worried at that point.
“But I ran two or three laps, the guys said it looks a lot better, it looks like it’s going to be fine. At that point your bed is kind of made. You have to stay out there and pray and hope that it doesn’t go flat. From there, we were just fighting, battling.
“I got run into. Got knocked out of the groove once, put in the wall once off of two just after that. Luckily, we were able to have two good restarts at the end and get in the right lanes and make up some the spots.
“I was definitely worried, but luckily it held together there.”
Truex admitted Sunday’s cutoff race at Martinsville Speedway has much more anxiety and tenseness than even next Sunday’s championship race at Phoenix.
“It’s the eight best guys of the year trying to whittle it down to four,” Truex said. “You know it’s going to be tight, close; every spot is going to matter. Unless you’re Kyle Larson, you won 30 races this year, it’s going to be close. 29, sorry (laughter). I mean, you know it’s going to be close. You come down to Martinsville, you know it’s going to be a nail-biter, which it was.
“Next week it’s an honor and pleasure to get to race for championships. Only four of us get to do it. It’s a fun week. It’s definitely a lot less pressure than trying to go eight to four.”