Kyle Larson explains 'awkward' feeling after beating Denny Hamlin for NASCAR championship

In one of the strangest championship weekends, Kyle Larson is left with a mixed bag of emotions over the whole situation. Yes, he won the NASCAR title, his second. Still, it felt like he had wronged Denny Hamlin by taking the championship away in overtime.

Of course, no one can blame Kyle Larson. He did what he had to do to win for his team, sponsors, and everyone around him. It just feels like we were promised a storybook ending for Denny that never came.

Even Larson couldn’t help but feel awkward and even a little sad for his friend. That’s sports sometimes, though.

“No, I mean, I definitely have a lot of empathy for him. I said it I think in the interview I did on the stage. It’s great to celebrate and all that, but it does feel a little awkward because he has put so much time and energy, has been so close to winning so many championships. This is as close as he’s ever been.

“Sure he’s a competitor, but he is a friend. I was going to be happy for him to win. That’s kind of what I was thinking about. Like, man, I can’t wait to go tell him, ‘Good job.’ Then the caution came out and the script flipped right there, so… Yeah, I haven’t seen him. I haven’t seen an interview. I haven’t seen the moments that I’m sure he had with his family, shared that with his daughters.

“Yeah, no, I mean, sure, I’m happy, but there’s definitely a piece of me that is sad for him, as well. I’m sure all of us in here, even the Denny haters, I’m sure there’s a spot where they’re sad, too. That’s competition. That’s the format. It’s just weird, you know? But yeah, I still hope someday he can get to feel what it’s like.”

Kyle Larson takes championship over Denny Hamlin

Right now, Denny Hamlin and everyone who watched are still processing what happened. William Byron apologized to Denny, even if his wreck and the late caution caused his Hendrick teammate, Kyle Larson, to win the title. The mood at Phoenix Raceway has been strange, to say the least.

After the race, Hamlin answered questions from the media. When asked about whether NASCAR should eliminate overtime in the final race of he season, Hamlin didn’t really have an answer.

“I don’t know. Golly,” Denny Hamlin said. “In this moment, I never want to race a car ever again. My fun meter’s pegged.”

During his media availability, Hamlin was flat. He really didn’t know how ot react to what had just happened and didn’t have many answers, either. It is just one of those things you can’t control.