Hamlin, Bell not in panic mode, but know time is running out in title fight

Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway will not decide the championship fight, but Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell both acknowledge it could play a big role in how it unfolds.

Hamlin said Saturday that he doesn’t feel desperation to make something happen, but “the gap needs to close starting now. I think that’s probably pretty accurate with our position. And then [for us] to get back on our front foot. I think you have to start with winning the day and then go from there.

“But ultimately, with the races winding down, we have to start chopping into this.”

Hamlin trails Kyle Larson, the championship leader from Hendrick Motorsports, by 49 points. Larson is trying to win back-to-back championships and has extended his lead over Hamlin since inheriting the top spot after Bristol Motor Speedway (Sept. 19).

Bell, meanwhile, trails Larson by 51 points. In his mind, the difference will come down to wins.

“I think everyone has talked about that number, said Bell. “What is that number? When the season started, they were like, you need to be top five in points. I think top five is within 50 or something like that. Then that’s proven to not be the number. So, what is the number? Is 50 back with four races to go out of contention? Is 50 back with two races to go? Nobody really knows.

“Denny and I are both 50 back right now, and we need to close that gap. But looking at the rest of the races, I think we’ll all be running up front, scoring stage points, and competing for wins, so the difference maker will be who gets those wins, and then Talladega. Whatever happens at Talladega.

“The likelihood of a crash is a lot higher at that track than other tracks, and that can really hinder the points you take away. So, between Talladega and race wins, I think that’s going to be the deciding factor.”

Bell started the Chase with a Darlington win, putting him inside the top five in points. He has sat third for the last three weeks.

“I think my group just needs to continue to do what we’ve been doing,” Bell said. “We keep putting ourselves in position. I think certainly some of the wins that have gotten away have fallen on me, and I put Charlotte in that position as well last weekend … because I basically drag-raced him [Chase Briscoe] to the start/finish line, and I think I could have done a little bit more to stall him out when we were coming to the line, and I ended up losing the race.

“So, if my team keeps bringing these race cars back and I figure out how to get to victory lane, then I think the (No.) 20 car can be the champion.”

Larson has two wins in the Chase. Hamlin, who started the postseason as the No. 1 seed, has not won since June 14 at Pocono Raceway.

“You don’t need to throw Hail Marys until the end of the game,” Hamlin said of not starting to push too hard. “So, I think you have to keep getting little small gains. But we have to start chipping away; the time is going by. Chipping away will still get it done, but it has to start sooner rather than later.

“I have not hit the panic button at all, but I can see it. I’m just not quite there yet. It starts with this weekend. If we end up with a larger deficit leaving here than what we started, then yeah, we need to start pressing from this point on.”