AVONDALE, Ariz. – NASCAR bristled at the notion race fans might be skeptical if Denny Hamlin is penalized at any point in the title-deciding finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Hamlin is in the final four of Sunday’s winner-take-all race as a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. As co-owner of 23XI Racing, he’s entangled in a contentious antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR that is hurtling toward a Dec. 1 trial.

He has maintained that NASCAR and its at-track officials have treated both Hamlin and 23XI fairly with no bogus penalties and no increased scrutiny on the teams as their cars go through inspection.

But, Hamlin has a longtime problem with speeding on pit road and has been flagged for it five times through 37 races. NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell sternly answered “No” when asked if there was any co

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