Denny Hamlin pre-race for the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet at Kansas Speedway, where he went on to finish runner-up. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — After a dominating performance at Kansas Speedway, Denny Hamlin finished in second place after being passed in the final corner on the final lap by Chase Elliott in the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet.
Hamlin, who led a race-high 159 laps, was not only searching for career win No. 60, but an automatic berth into the Round of 8 to continue the march for his first career NASCAR Cup Series title.
“Just super disappointing,” said Hamlin. “Obviously, I wanted it bad. It would have been (career win No.) 60 for me. The team just did an amazing job with the car, just really, really fast. Gave me everything I needed.”
Denny Hamlin (No. 11) crossing the start/finish line .069 seconds behind Chase Elliott (No. 9) to finish the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN in second place. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
After losing the lead following a slow pit stop under caution on Lap 253, Hamlin was able to get a hard charge on the ensuing restart, but lost ground before a multi-car incident brought out a red flag. On the final restart, he lined up in the third row and was able to make up the ground he needed by virtue of a three-wide pass for second and got alongside Bubba Wallace for the lead on the final lap – all while battling power steering issues.
In Turn 3, Hamlin got tight and ran Wallace up the track and into the wall, opening the door for Elliott in Turn 4 to make a three-wide pass for the lead and steal the victory away from Toyota.
“Got the restart I needed,” Hamlin said. “Just couldn’t finish it there on the last corner. Obviously, got really, really tight with the (No.) 23 (Wallace). I just got real tight, and we let the (No.) 9 (Elliott) win.”
Wallace, who drives for Hamlin’s co-owned 23XI Racing team, entered the afternoon 27 points below the cutline. After the contact with the wall, Wallace dropped back, finishing in the fifth position, leaving Kansas Speedway still 26 points beneath the final Round of 8 transfer spot, and practically searching for a victory as the series heads to the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL for the Round of 12 elimination race next weekend.
Denny Hamlin (No. 11) battling Bubba Wallace (No. 23) for position at Kansas Speedway during the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
“Two years ago, I’d probably say something dumb,” Wallace said. “I mean, he’s (Hamlin) a dumbass for that move, for sure. I don’t care if he’s my boss or not. But we’re going for the win. I thought it was meant to be, and then it wasn’t.”
As Wallace and the No. 23 team head to the ROVAL, most likely needing a win to keep their championship hopes alive, Hamlin still sits comfortably at 48 points above the playoff cutline with one race in the Round of 12 despite finishing one spot shy of Victory Lane.
Even with the points gap to the cutline, Hamlin was still visibly upset following the runner-up finish with what was on the line today for his career.
“I’m just disappointed because I don’t think I’ve ever had a car that good to the competition,” he said. “I wanted it for my dad. I wanted it for everybody. I just wanted it a little too hard.”
