AVONDALE, Ariz. — It's all lining up for Denny Hamlin to shed his title as NASCAR's greatest driver to never win a championship.

Hamlin, in his 20th full season, won the pole at Phoenix Raceway in Sunday’s winner-take-all NASCAR championship finale. The Cup will be awarded to the highest finisher among Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, and William Byron and Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports.

He will lead the field to green for the final race of a season in which Hamlin won a series-high six races, his victory at Las Vegas last month the milestone 60th of his career. That win locked him into the finale with three weeks to prepare — his car and mentally — and has him relaxed and joking ahead of the biggest race of his life.

“I think the benefit was winning in Vegas be

See Full Page