(photo credit Leon Hammack)

After pulling onto pit road in the moments after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race checkered flag flew at Phoenix Raceway Sunday, the day’s most dominant driver Denny Hamlin slid his helmet off, handed it to a team member and then sat in his car for nearly five minutes, simply gazing out toward the track.

The utter disappointment and competitive pain of leading four times the number of laps (208) as anyone else in the field but missing out on his first championship trophy was palpable to those standing nearby. The veteran driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota finished sixth in the race after a two-lap overtime sprint to the checkered flag – more significantly, second among the four championship-eligible drivers that included Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, who finished third.

Larson gambled on a two-tire pit stop leading to an overtime re-start. Hamlin’s crew gave him four tires on a slightly longer stop. Larson re-started fifth and Hamlin, 10th and despite a valiant effort Hamlin was unable to get around his good friend and racing rival Larson.

So, Larson hoisted his second NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy, while Hamlin was consoling his pit crew. And vice versa.

It was a stunning end to a race where the 44-year-old potential future NASCAR Hall of Famer Hamlin easily and convincingly proved himself the class of the field all day long. He won pole position and led the race seven different times – 208 of the 319 laps. He was leading when the final caution flag flew just as Hamlin’s Toyota pulled within a few hundred yards of the finish line.

“We were 40 seconds from a championship,” said the Virginian, who has now finished championship runner-up twice in his 20-year fulltime career in NASCAR’s premier series.

“Gosh, you work so hard. This sport can drive you absolutely crazy ’cause sometimes speed, talent, all that stuff, just does not matter.”

Hamlin’s crew chief Chris Gayle immediately approached the driver after he climbed out of the car. He leaned in and said something in Hamlin’s ear and the two embraced.

It was clear Gayle was equally as disappointed considering the top-shelf day the team had turned in, the amazing season – including a series’ high six victories – they had earned.

“He’s a champion either way,” Gayle said. “He put in the work. He dominated the race. He sat on the pole. He did everything he needed to be a champion today. It didn’t work out for him on the last re-start but that’s the truth.”

After dutifully doing a television interview leaning against his parked car, Hamlin walked over to a golf cart near pit wall where his two young daughters, 12-year-old Taylor and seven-year-old Molly were waiting for him. He embraced each of them, helped wipe their tears and then held Molly on his lap. Even in his own disappointment, he used the opportunity to reassure and comfort his young family.

Asked later what he told them, the series’ winningest active driver (60 wins) said he simply explained the race outcome – this time – was, “something we can’t control.”

“You know, certainly unfortunate circumstances,” Hamlin said of the conversation. “One of those life lessons, years down the road.”

It was a gut-wrenching lesson in the present for Hamlin, who has spoken all week about wanting to finally claim the sport’s most prestigious trophy in part, so his ill father Dennis – watching the race from home in North Carolina – could see his son, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, earn and enjoy yet another great career celebration.

While Hamlin did not hoist that trophy this weekend, he did accomplish something arguably as significant. He showed his father, his young daughters, his massive fandom, his race team and even his competitors how to handle a difficult let down with class and grace.

Hamlin may not have won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship trophy this weekend, but he sure won respect and hearts with the way he so admiringly answered challenge and disappointment.

And he will be back.

“Kyle Larson has the trophy, but we dominated,” Hamlin conceded. “We did our job. We did the best we could.

“They’re a championship team and a championship driver. They’re going to win a hell of a lot more than just these two. But when everyone had to bring their best, I think it was evident who was the best today.”

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!