Denny Hamlin entered the closing laps at Kansas Speedway in full control, but the finish did not go as expected. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, NASCAR Cup Series Driver Denny Hamlin explained how 23XI Racing built a strategy that put him in a position to win.
The team split its calls, with most cars pitting early while Tyler Reddick stayed out longer. That approach gave Hamlin track position late in the race. He led 131 laps and managed the pace on the long runs. With only a few laps remaining, the race looked settled. Then a late caution erased the gap and forced an overtime restart.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Denny Hamlin and 23XI Strategy
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Denny Hamlin said the plan focused on timing and control of track position. He stayed close to the front and relied on his car for the final run.
“I had fallen to about two seconds back from the lead, which isn’t insurmountable. At a place like Kansas, when it’s time to go, I can usually find a little more speed than I’ve had all day.”
The team made a key adjustment during the last pit stop. That decision slowed the stop slightly but was aimed at improving balance for the closing laps.
“Our pit stop was a bit slow, but that was because we made an adjustment for the final run. Chris made the call to put me out front and see if anyone could pass me.”
The call worked. Hamlin returned to the lead and held position as the race moved toward its final stage.
Tyler Reddick’s Struggles Shift the Race
As the laps counted down, NASCAR Cup Series Driver Denny Hamlin tracked what was happening ahead. He noticed Reddick’s car begin to lose grip after taking the lead.
“When Tyler got to the lead, I could see he was starting to get loose. These cars undergo significant balance shifts. We short-pitted most of the field, and aside from him, we were able to pull away.”
Reddick then made contact with the wall while trying to manage the handling. That opened the door for Hamlin to move back in front.
“The team did their job and gave me a real shot to win. I was looking forward to those final laps because Tyler was struggling. When he got back in front of me, he was fighting the car and eventually got into the wall. I got around him and thought it was over at that point, but it wasn’t.”
At that moment, NASCAR Cup Series Driver Denny Hamlin had a clear track ahead and only a short run to the finish.
Late Caution Forces Overtime Finish
The race changed when Cody Ware spun late, bringing out a caution. The field reset for an overtime restart and erased Hamlin’s advantage.
On the restart, cars with fresher tires moved forward quickly. Kyle Larson and Reddick both passed Hamlin in the short run to the finish.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Denny Hamlin dropped back and finished fourth. The result followed a race he had controlled for most of the afternoon.
The outcome showed how a late caution can change results in the NASCAR Cup Series. One restart was enough to decide the finish after a long green-flag run.
Denny Hamlin Thought It Was Over at Kansas-Then Everything Changed Late