Kevin Harvick believes Denny Hamlin didn't help himself with 'strange' pre-race behavior

Denny Hamlin finished second in the Cup Series driver standings (Image: Getty)

Kevin Harvick knows a thing or two about winning a NASCAR Cup Series championship, having clinched the crown back in 2014 with Stewart-Haas Racing.

The 60-time race winner ultimately retired as the 10th winningest driver in Cup Series history, a mark recently tied by Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin, following his emotional win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Unfortunately for Hamlin, 44, his fairytale 'villain to hero' season ultimately wasn't to be, even if the usual chorus of boos from fans around the country switched to cheers in recent months during his push for the title.

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Hamlin's season appeared to be heading for the perfect climax, leading the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway for 208 laps in total with just four remaining, with a clear buffer over title rival William Byron in second. However, a sudden tire blowout from Byron threw the race into disarray, with teams opting for an array of pit strategies which, in Hamlin's case, placed him well behind title rival Kyle Larson come the restart.

While Hamlin was able to climb back up to sixth, he lost the championship to Larson, who crossed the line in third. However, looking back at the fight for the title during his latest 'Havick's Happy Hour' podcast, the 49-year-old questioned Hamlin's mind games prior to the finale.

Hamlin is still chasing his first Cup Series Championship (Image: Getty)

"What was interesting to me before that race is all the, all the, 'Get on the bandwagon train talk,' and just all the hype that they promoted before the race," he said. "I would have had to nix that. I'm a firm believer in karma. I'm so cautious about stuff like that because I just - I don't ever like to beat that drum before...I don't know. It was kind of strange...He put a lot of pressure on himself."

The "bandwagon" comment in question took place back in early September following Hamlin's Enjoy Illinois 300 win, telling the booing crowd in St. Louis, "You can either get on the bandwagon, or you can get run over by it."

Hamlin's relationship with NASCAR fans took a swift U-turn later in the year, after winning the South Point 400 in Nevada. A landmark win in his career, Hamlin was in tears throughout the final stages of the event, and while speaking to the crowd after climbing out of his Toyota, at which point he was met with cheers. Hamlin made a point "to say hi to my dad," Dennis, speaking post-race. Unfortunately, Dennis has been dealing with an unknown health issue of late, with Hamlin recently revealing that this would be the final time he'd be able to watch him fight for a championship.

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Harvick said, "When you look at the Hamlin championship story and everything that went with that, I felt bad for him this time.

"The way that they dominated the race and the way that their cars ran, the story with his dad and just, you know - I think we saw it with William Byron at Martinsville, with the pressure that is on these guys.

"I think, in Denny's situation, knowing that the clock is ticking, announcing when his last year will be, his dad's health, the performance of the cars - I mean, that was a tough, tough moment for Denny Hamlin to lose that championship. You saw it on his face after the race."

Source: Sports