Hamlin captures last spot in “The Chase” final next week, wins at Phoenix (11-10-19)

By: Becca Cottingham

Headline Photo Courtesy: LA Times

We visit ISM Raceway to race in the desert. This is the final race of before the race for the championship. It will be a race of drivers making moves trying to clinch the last two spots and errors cannot happen. Mistakes on the track or on pit road can play a huge role in who gets the last two spots. We have a great battle between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson. Ricky Stenhouse Jr, had something happened and sparks are flying with nine laps left in the first stage. Now the question will be who is gambling. We restart the race right before the end of the first stage and they are racing three wide. Denny Hamlin was able to get out front and secure a stage one win.

Stage two restart again three wide with drivers wanting to gain any and all positions possible. As drivers start settling down lap traffic will an issue for the top drivers. Joey Logano has been leading laps for the entire second stage. We have a great race between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott for positions on the race, while they battle traffic. This will be determine points and making up ground. They almost have contact. They continue to battle and trade paint. With the battle going on behind him Joey Logano was able to take the win for stage two.

Entering the third and final stage Denny Hamlin spun his tires and he is back in a battle with Chase Elliott. But this again allowed Joey Logano to get out front and drive away. Chase Elliot had a tire go down and he crashed hard into the wall. His playoff chance of going to the last four ends. Denny Hamlin is driving hard to try to get into the final position to drive for the Championship. There is a huge battle between Joey Logano and Kyle Busch. Joey Logano is slipping back due to a car not working the way he wants too. They added what they removed from Joey and that has helped. Denny Hamlin only has roughly nine and half seconds over Kyle Busch even with green flag pit stops. We get a late lap caution due to John Hunter Nemechek hitting the wall. Denny Hamlin’s crew only put two tires on and this will be a major restart for Denny Hamlin. Denny Hamlin was able to get a good restart with cars going three wide. He just did make it to first place and kept it for three laps to punch his ticket to go to Homestead-Miami next week.