AVONDALE, Ariz. — Denny Hamlin was shell-shocked, a vacant look in his eyes, as he tried to explain how he yet again came up short in his quest to win a NASCAR championship. William Byron approached, placed his hand on Hamlin's shoulder and apologized for causing the caution that cost Hamlin the title.

The greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship fell short of ditching that label when Byron blew a tire Sunday at Phoenix Raceway that began the sequence of events that cost Hamlin the title. Hamlin was three laps away from the finish, held a lead of more than 3 seconds, and had dominated almost the entire race.

But the caution sent the race to overtime and forced teams to make critical decisions about pitting. Hamlin took four new tires, but Kyle Larson took just two to get ba

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