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SPORTS Monday 11 noveMber 2019

Hamlin races way

into championship

field with Phoenix win

By JENNA FRYER Blaney — and the two lined
AP Auto Racing Writer up next to each other for
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — the restart with three laps
Denny Hamlin adamantly to go.
insisted 'it's not over" after Hamlin finally got a decent
a critical mistake last week restart, pulled into the lead,
put the Daytona 500 winner and Gibbs teammate Kyle
on the verge of elimination Busch passed Blaney to put
from NASCAR's champion- a buffer between the two.
ship race. Hamlin then cruised to his
He remained undeterred, sixth win of the season and
confident in his chances to punched the air with his
win Sunday at ISM Race- fist in his car as he crossed
way and save his season the finish line. He jumped
with a victory that would into the arms of his waiting
give him an automatic crew, which he had prom-
berth into the final four. ised earlier Sunday to give Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday,
He called his shot and de- his all in an effort to make Nov. 10, 2019, in Avondale, Ariz.
livered. the championship field at Associated Press
Hamlin snagged his first Homestead-Miami Speed-
spot in the championship way. who won the finale to snag Blaney and Logano were playoffs.
field since 2014 with his win, "This race team worked so the title away from the three eliminated. Logano was NASCAR's most popular
a victory that eliminated hard this whole year. They drivers who dominated the seeking a chance to make driver had a mechanical
NASCAR champion Joey deserve to be there," Ham- season. This year the final it back-to-back titles but problem at Martinsville,
Logano from the playoffs lin said of his No. 11 crew. "I four is equally deserving of had a mechanical prob- crashed last week at Texas
and gave Joe Gibbs Rac- put them in a bad hole last their spots in the finale — lem early in the final stage and crashed Sunday when
ing and Toyota three of week. I told them today the champion has had to that dropped him deep he appeared to have a tire
the slots in next week's de- in the meeting, I said, 'I'm win the race at Homestead into the field. issue that caused him to
cider at Homestead-Miami going to give everything to claim the title every year "No clue. An air pressure spin.
Speedway. I've got to make up for the since the elimination for- adjustment made it go "Just a continuation of our
"I try not to put too much mistake I made last week.' mat debuted in 2014. from a winning car to not first two weeks," Elliott said.
into it," Hamlin said. "There's That's all I got." Hamlin has never won a able to stay on the lead "I feel like we were in a
still work to be done. Doesn't Hamlin will race Gibbs championship, but had lap. That sounds ridiculous," good position to run solid.
guarantee a champion- teammates Busch and chances in 2010 and 2014 said Logano. "We'll live. Ev- Not sure why we had a tire
ship. Gives us a chance. Martin Truex Jr., as well as but had disappointing rac- erything is going to be OK. go down, I think that's what
Live to fight another day. Kevin Harvick of Stewart- es — a decision not to take We're still fortunate to be happened. These last three
That's all you can ask for." Haas Racing, for the cham- tires after a late caution here and grateful to do weeks have been rough."
Hamlin, one of the favor- pionship. Gibbs, winner of took Hamlin from the lead what we love." UP NEXT
ites to win the title, faced 18 races this season, and to out of contention in the ELLIOTT'S AWFUL ROUND Sunday's championship-
elimination after spinning Toyota have three of the 2014 race. Elliott's championship deciding finale at Home-
last week at Texas but took slots in the final four. "Denny has not won a chances ended with a stead-Miami Speedway,
control and had the win "I feel like we are all here championship, so you can crash in the final stage. He the last time the track will
essentially in the bag un- because we worked to- imagine how hard he's go- had to win to earn a berth host the finale. Logano
til a caution with nine laps gether," said Truex. ing to go for it," said Gibbs. at Homestead after a di- is the defending race
remaining set up a final re- Chevrolet will not be repre- Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, sastrous third round of the winner.q
start. sented for the third consec-
Hamlin, who had been ter- utive season and Harvick
rible on restarts the entire races a Ford. Hamlin's win
race, punched his steering sealed the manufacturer
wheel in anger when the championship for Toyota.
yellow flag waved. His Joe Truex won the 2018 title,
Gibbs Racing team made Busch won in 2015 and Har-
an unusual call to take just vick in 2014. All three raced
two tires — the same strat- for the championship last
egy as contender Ryan season against Logano,