Hamlin clinches spot in finals with victory; Elliott eliminated

Denny Hamlin won at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., to advance into NASCAR’s title-deciding race — a victory that eliminated champion Joey Logano from the playoffs and gave Hamlin first spot in the championship field since 2014.

Chase Elliott’s championship chances ended with a crash in the final stage.

AVONDALE, ARIZ. — Denny Hamlin adamantly insisted ‘it’s not over” after a critical mistake last week put the Daytona 500 winner on the verge of NASCAR season title elimination.

He remained undeterred, confident in his chances to win Sunday at ISM Raceway and save his season with a victory that would give him an automatic berth into the final four. He delivered.

Hamlin snagged his first spot in the championship field since 2014 with his win, a victory that eliminated NASCAR champion Joey Logano from the playoffs and gave Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota three of the slots in next week’s decider at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“I try not to put too much into it,” Hamlin said. “There’s still work to be done. Doesn’t guarantee a championship. Gives us a chance. Live to fight another day. That’s all you can ask for.”

Hamlin, one of the favorites to win the title, faced elimination after spinning last week at Texas but took control and had the win essentially in the bag until a caution with nine laps remaining set up a final restart.

Hamlin, who had been terrible on restarts the entire race, punched his steering wheel in anger when the yellow flag waved. His Joe Gibbs Racing team made an unusual call to take just two tires — the same strategy as contender Ryan Blaney — and the two lined up next to each other for the restart with three laps to go.

Hamlin finally got a decent restart, pulled into the lead, and Gibbs teammate Kyle Busch passed

Blaney to put a buffer between the two. Hamlin then cruised to his sixth win of the season and punched the air with his fist in his car as he crossed the finish line. He jumped into the arms of his waiting crew after making the championship field at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“This race team worked so hard this whole year. They deserve to be there,” Hamlin said of his No. 11 crew. “I put them in a bad hole last week. I told them today in the meeting, I said, ‘I’m going to give everything I’ve got to make up for the mistake I made last week.’ That’s all I got.”

Hamlin will race Gibbs teammates Busch and Martin Truex Jr., as well as Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing, for the championship. Gibbs, winner of 18 races this season, and Toyota have three of the slots in the final four.

“I feel like we are all here because we worked together,” said Truex.

Chevrolet will not be represented for the third consecutive season, and Harvick races a Ford. Hamlin’s win sealed the manufacturer championship for Toyota.

Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Blaney and Logano were eliminated. Logano was seeking a chance to make it back-to-back titles but had a mechanical problem early in the final stage that dropped him deep into the field.

Elliott’s championship chances ended with a crash in the final stage. He had to win to earn a berth at Homestead after a disastrous third round of the playoffs.

“These last three weeks have been rough,” Elliott said.

MATT SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES Denny Hamlin gets a lift from his crew after winning in Avondale, Arizona, and earning a chance to win the season title next week. Facing elimination entering the race, Hamlin pulled into the lead on a restart and cruised to his sixth victory of the season.