Hamlin's 'third place car, driver, and everything' loses points in Chase title fight

Denny Hamlin was not far behind his NASCAR Cup Series championship rival at the end of Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway. The only problem, however, is that rival Kyle Larson won the race.

And with that win, Hamlin, who finished third, fell further behind in the championship standings.

“Winning, that’s the only difference,” said Hamlin of what would have made the day better. “We just didn’t quite have it today; just was hanging around. We could be really good on the long run, but on the short run, the [No.] 5 was really good, the [No.] 2 was good, and we just couldn’t quite hold those guys off or keep them close enough in the short run.

“Then obviously at the end there, I ran a lot down but just not enough time and track position. We gained a few spots there at the end, but overall, that’s kind of what we had. A third-place car, driver, and everything today.”

Hamlin’s average running position? 3.3.

Larson, however, had a 1.28 average running position because he not only won the race, but also swept the stages. Plus, Larson earned the fastest-lap bonus. It gave him a maximum 76-point day.

A total of 51 points went to Hamlin for his third-place finish, along with a second and a third in the two stages. But he went from one point behind Larson, who took the championship points lead from Hamlin after Bristol, to 28 points behind.

“There has always been a threat – I haven’t won it before,” said Hamlin. “I feel like we’re still in it, still really close, and we just have to continue to put together days like this, and we also have to win.

“We have to win a few races between now and the end of the year.”

Hamlin is not only the defending winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but also won at the track earlier this season. It is where the Cup Series heads next.