In the aftermath of the Shriners Children’s 500, Denny Hamlin, a seasoned stalwart of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), has sparked conversation by analyzing the race’s climactic moments, and how he might have played them differently. Notably, he shared his thoughts about his teammate Christopher Bell’s thrilling victory, and the controversial finish to the Xfinity Series race involving Aric Almirola.
Bell managed to secure his third consecutive win in a hard-fought race where the No. 20 car emerged as the apex predator of the track. However, the journey to the finish line was fraught with challenges. Bell had to parry off the relentless pursuit from Hamlin on the outside, and Kyle Larson, who was hot on his heels during the final two laps. Despite having the advantage of the high line and showing strong performance on the restarts, Hamlin failed to clinch the victory. Even the push from Larson, their common adversary, wasn’t sufficient to help Hamlin snatch the win. A minuscule 0.049-second gap separated the two JGR cars as they crossed the finish line.
Following the adrenaline-soaked race, Hamlin was questioned about his final two-lap showdown with Bell. In response, he took the conversation on a detour, drawing parallels with Almirola’s controversial victory in the Xfinity Series race.
In a stunning twist of fate, the Xfinity and Cup Series races mirrored each other in their outcomes. The only deviation was Larson’s catalytic role in Bell’s triumph. Justin Allgaier was poised to grab the win with a commanding lead, but a caution light with just four laps remaining threatened to derail his victory. Almirola, behind the wheel of the No. 19 car, targeted the No. 7 JRM car, creating an opening for Alex Bowman to vie for the lead. Despite Bowman securing the white flag, the race was far from over.
Almirola swiftly changed gears, dived into the inside lane, and launched an attack off turn 4. He sent the No. 15 car spiraling into the outside wall, and stormed past the start-finish line. Hamlin found himself in a situation similar to Bowman’s, struggling to match the fierce inside lane assault from Bell.
Hamlin’s analysis of the Xfinity race exposes the tactical errors that put him at a disadvantage in his face-off with Bell. He believes that Bowman should have held the bottom and forced Almirola to knock him off course, instead of leaving him too much room to maneuver. Hamlin also voiced his frustration about being shoved around on the track, asserting that he was denied the space to race cleanly.
The glaring lesson from these races, according to Hamlin, is the strategic importance of sticking to the inside lane during the final lap shootout. He believes that the drivers who claimed the inside lane ultimately had the last laugh. Hamlin shared that if he were to face a similar situation in the future, he would avoid the outside and stay on the bumper of his competitor.
This revelation from Hamlin sets the stage for the upcoming races. The JGR driver, who’s currently on a 29-race winless streak, is keen to apply his newfound insights on traditional oval tracks. His sights are set on the Las Vegas race next, where he clinched his last win in 2021. Armed with the lessons from the Phoenix race, Hamlin is ready to break his dry spell and return to the winner’s circle.
