In hindsight, Denny Hamlin needs he wouldn’t have let Kyle Larson pressure him three-wide center on the ultimate restart on Sunday at Kansas Speedway. After all, if he might do it another time, he additionally would doubtless have restarted on the skin as properly.
That was the general sentiment from Hamlin on Monday in the course of the newest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, one by which he feels every part went in opposition to him in a race that regarded like his to lose.
He had simply retaken the lead from Tyler Reddick with 4 laps to go and was half a lap away from taking the white flag when Cody Ware spun attributable to a flat tire. Then, he merely bought beat on the restart however elements each out and in of his management.
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Even in the course of the restart, Hamlin appears like he would have had a shot at profitable if not for Tyler Reddick placing Christopher Bell into the wall and into his path.
“Like, of the Reddick contact with Bell doesn’t occur, and I don’t get (pushed) all the best way all the way down to the apron … Kyle (Larson’s) automobile was so unhealthy these final two laps,” Hamlin mentioned. “That’s what occurs (excessive tight stability) while you placed on (proper sides) and have actually previous lefts. That’s why it regarded like Tyler was superman. …
“I believed I used to be going to be three-wide with (Larson and Reddick) getting into flip three due to the run I bought on the highest.”
So far as Larson taking him three-wide going into Flip 1, he needs a redo on that too.
“I do know, as a result of I have been there earlier than, that (Larson) just isn’t going to push,” Hamlin mentioned. “He will attempt to get every part he can to go three-wide and I’ve simply bought to drive him all the way down to the apron. ‘If you wish to go three-wide, you need to go to the center,’ and that is only a forewarning. …
“If this occurs once more, he’ll must go the center. I cannot let him. I’ll run to the apron or preserve him on the apron subsequent time. I cannot get beat low at this racetrack once more.”
So then, the honest and apparent query is why did Hamlin select the underside excessive because the management automobile driver. The information suggests one of the best restarts come from the underside however that expects a push from behind that Larson was by no means going to present in that situation.
“Ought to have, I ought to have, as robust as I do know my vehicles are on the highest on mile-and-a-half tracks, I completely ought to have began on the prime, it doesn’t matter what,” Hamlin mentioned. “I might maintain extra throttle than everybody else.”
So once more, why didn’t he?
“The underside is the popular line,” Hamlin mentioned. “The underside wins by the numbers. The information says the underside.”
Simply not on the ultimate restart because it seems.
“Individuals are not content material pushing anymore,” Hamlin mentioned. “Everyone seems to be simply going to go for themselves. And that is the place you need to simply throw the numbers out.”
Finally, Hamlin was additional disillusioned as a result of he is aware of subsequent season is his closing season, and this now makes two wins that bought away from him in 2026 — Martinsville and Kansas.
“I took this one just a little more durable as a result of I simply need to capitalize,” Hamlin mentioned. “I’ve solely bought 60 races left and I simply need to get these wins after I needs to be profitable and it’s simply not occurring.
“It was the free wheel on the finish of Martinsville and a number of stuff that’s not going nice within the luck class or the creating your personal luck class, which is what I chalk this as much as.”
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