https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
Denny Hamlin Reveals Shock After Unknowingly Giving Kyle Larson the Wave-Around
Highlights
- Denny Hamlin finished 16th at Las Vegas despite strong car.
- Early spin forced Hamlin to pit from the race lead.
- Hamlin unaware Kyle Larson was struggling and a lap down.
- He regrets pitting, would have stayed out if informed.
- Hamlin trails Larson by 40 points mid-Chase season.
- Hamlin emphasizes need for better race situational awareness.
Denny Hamlin finishes 16th at Las Vegas after an early spin and a misjudged pit call, despite believing the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota carries race-winning pace.
Pushing for stage points, he moves to the high groove, hits marbles, and loops around. From the lead, he pits, but the tire offset proves insufficient to reclaim track position.
Crucially, Hamlin says he lacks awareness that Kyle Larson is struggling and a lap down after handling woes and a long stop, as outlined in Larson’s race troubles.
“Had I known that Larson was a lap down and would’ve gotten his lap back by me pitting, I would have never turned down pit road, I don’t care what the crew chief says.”
That admission underscores how NASCAR’s free-pass and wave-around procedures can reward a lapped rival when a leader pits at the wrong time, reshaping battles without requiring raw pace.
Hamlin defends the No. 11 group’s priority on maximizing car speed, but accepts the team must sharpen information flow and tire understanding, including Goodyear’s Charlotte focus, this month.
The theme repeats recent flashpoints, from the Las Vegas spin context to last season’s Phoenix tire call and the Roval late-race surprise, shaping his Chase narrative.
“We’ve got to get better at understanding who we’re racing, what’s going on, and responding the correct way.”
Damage from the spin compromises balance and speed. Hamlin maintains the Toyota is capable of controlling the race had he avoided the error and retained track position.
Hamlin sits 40 points behind Larson midway through the Chase.
Mid-Chase, he trails Larson by 40 points. Larson averages 2.2 across these races and salvages second despite a last-lap crash. Execution, strategy, and tires will decide the next rounds.
Visual Summary
11
💨
💥
Championship momentum spins away: Hamlin drops from lead to 16th after costly Las Vegas misstep
-40
Points behind Larson
Larson
Hamlin
2.2
Avg finish in Chase
“Had I known Larson was a lap down, I would have never turned down pit road. I don’t care what the crew chief says.”
11
🚗💥
While Hamlin spun, Larson went a lap down with pit issues—but still finished P2.
Lesson from Las Vegas:
Championship awareness is as crucial as raw speed.
Championship awareness is as crucial as raw speed.
Low
⬆️
HIGH
Hamlin needs wins—every move counts.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.
