Denny Hamlin was three laps away from the biggest win of his career – and then ten laps later (including 10 laps of an overtime period), it all fell apart to the most devastating loss he’s ever suffered.

In the fifth Championship Four edition of his 21 years in the Cup Series, Hamlin did everything he needed to do to win, including leading a race-high 208 laps.

Even Kyle Larson, who ultimately stole the title away from Hamlin, said the No. 11 Toyota ran a “perfect” race.

But while Hamlin may have run a perfect race, the finish was far from it. Larson finished third in the extended overtime stanza behind race winner Ryan Blaney and runner-up Brad Keselowski, while Hamlin finished a devastating sixth.

“I really don’t have much for emotion right now,” Hamlin said in his somber post-race p

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