While this NASCAR season was full of ups and downs, one of the most bittersweet moments was at the finish line of Phoenix. Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing sat frozen behind the wheel of his No. 11 Toyota after seeing the championship slip through his fingers.
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports, on the other hand, rose from the ashes and emerged as an unexpected winner. Though the No. 5 driver added another Cup championship to his belt, he, too, was shocked and guilty for snatching the championship from Hamlin.
The No. 11 driver’s fate not only created one of the most emotional and heartbreaking scenarios in NASCAR, but it also raised questions about a potential parallel between Hamlin’s trajectory and what happened with Carl Edwards in 2016.
How Did Denny Hamlin’s Phoenix Run Turn Into a Heartbreaking Affair?
Ever since the start of the Phoenix finale, Hamlin did everything right and ticked all the boxes that determine the legitimacy of a champion. Starting from the pole, the 44-year-old dominated the field from the very beginning; however, William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports took the Stage win while Hamlin came in third.
In Stage 2, however, the No. 11 Toyota took no time to move to the front, and Hamlin’s courageous run gave him an advantage of more than two seconds over the runner-up. With the Stage win, Hamlin continued his reign in the final Stage until he had to tackle the advances of Byron and Ryan Blaney.
Once past it, though, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver again pushed his lead advantage to over two seconds. It was all seemingly going Hamlin’s way until Byron’s tire blunder with three laps to go, which called for a caution.
Once in the pit lane, Hamlin got four fresh tires while Larson opted for two. The No. 5 driver had a track-position advantage, but Hamlin had more grip. With less than two laps to go in the overtime restart, Larson paced forward. Hamlin, however, was unable to cut through the lap traffic and witnessed his well-deserved title heading over to the No. 5 camp.
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After the contest, Hamlin held back his emotions and was fairly disappointed at the turn of events. When asked if he would still strive for a NASCAR championship in the future, Hamlin was unsure and said, “If you can’t win that one, I don’t know which one you can.”
What Happened With Carl Edwards at the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series Finale?
Now, Edwards, who has been absent from NASCAR for a significant part of the decade, was once one of the most promising names in the sport, particularly during his run in the 2016 Cup season.
A title contender in the 2016 season finale at Homestead-Miami, Edwards’ run in the contest turned out to be the final nail in the coffin for him. With around 15 laps to go, Edwards was leading the contest, and much like Hamlin, he was eyeing his maiden championship title.
However, a last-minute caution called for a restart, where Edwards’ aggressive defense against Joey Logano’s advance led to a massive wreck. This ended Edwards’ title quest, and although Edwards walked away without any significant injuries, the turn of events effectively marked the final chapter of his Cup career.
Soon after the finale, he announced his retirement and never got back behind the wheel. However, Edwards has, on occasion, spoken about the multifaceted cause for his retirement.
In an interview this year, Edwards recalled the events in his life at the time and said:
“I was wrestling with some things like this at the time. I was living something that wasn’t my plan. I worked so hard my whole life and felt like I deserved to win this thing and it was taken away from me. What I realized is that there was a bigger plan than mine, and all that stuff played out just perfectly. I was just along for the ride. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it, but it was the strangest feeling.”
In a separate interview, when Edwards was asked if he would ever consider returning to NASCAR, he said, “I’m not planning on doing any driving. The Cup Series is the tip of the spear. These guys are so good that I would be terribly slow, so I’d have to prep a lot. Seriously, that’s the truth.”
Why Fans Are Drawing Parallels Between Hamlin and Edwards?
While Hamlin’s trajectory is not precisely like Edwards’, both ultimately lost out on a championship that was all but in their hands. After the finale, as Hamlin was trying to get a hold of his emotions and battling with disbelief at the result, he still opened up a bit.
The No. 11 driver gave a glimpse into his mind with statements like, “What can you do? Just not meant to be,” and “In this moment I never want to race a car ever again.”
The 44-year-old’s claims of never wanting to be in a race car again led many fans to draw parallels between the fates of both drivers. Though Hamlin faces fresh wounds of defeat, he has yet to comment on his future. Besides, the No. 11 driver also signed a two-year extension with Joe Gibbs Racing a few weeks ago.
Although many fans anticipated Hamlin pulling a move similar to that of Edwards, it remains to be seen what choice the Joe Gibbs Racing star will make as the dust settles on the ending at Phoenix.