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Denny Hamlin is once again in the spotlight as the NASCAR season heads into its final race. A video shared on social media has drawn attention to comments made by NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell, who firmly rejected a question about whether officiating decisions involving Hamlin in the Championship Race could be seen as retaliation for his ongoing lawsuit against NASCAR.Originally the clip was posted on X by motorsports journalist Steven Taranto, it shows O'Donnell responding to the question during a media session ahead of the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. In the video, O'Donnell answers,"No"“We have all the technology in place, we have an unbelievable officiating team. And I think that question, actually, is a bit absurd. So I'm pretty confident in the decisions we’ll make and the transparency we’ve had throughout the year.”O'Donnell’s remarks made it clear that NASCAR stands by the integrity of its officiating team and its systems. The focus on Denny Hamlin is unsurprising. The veteran driver has been one of NASCAR’s most consistent racers this year. Entering the Championship Race, he ranks second in the driver standings with 5,000 points. His record this season includes six wins, 14 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s, and four pole positions over 34 races. Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has led 816 laps so far.Joe Gibbs Racing faced recent technical issues during the race at Martinsville Speedway on October 27. Both Denny Hamlin and teammate Chase Briscoe suffered early exits due to engine failures.The problems went back to a faulty batch of valve springs supplied by Toyota Racing Development (TRD). Hamlin finished 35th, while Briscoe placed 39th. The same issue also affected Riley Herbst of 23XI Racing, another TRD-powered team.“We’re a deserving team,” says Denny Hamlin ahead of Championship showdownDenny Hamlin, now in his 20th full-time NASCAR season, is heading into the Phoenix finale with one goal, winning his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship. At 44, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver knows opportunities are getting fewer, and the pressure is higher than ever.Speaking during the Championship 4 Media Day, Hamlin shared his feelings about his team’s position. In an interview with Racer.com, he said,“I certainly feel like we’re a deserving team. If we were to win it, we’re a very deserving team. We’ve paid our dues in this thing, so hopefully it all happens.”The driver of the No. 11 Toyota spoke openly about how time and circumstances are shaping his mindset.“I would think it would probably be me, simply because of the time left. Is this my last opportunity or not? I think any format change that’s coming that seems like it’ll be a bigger sample size should be better for me in general, but you just never know. You always have to seize the moment right there in front of you.”Hamlin went on to admit that he feels more pressure than his Championship 4 rivals.“So, I would certainly confirm that the pressure is probably most on me because these guys know they have a long way to go,” he said.In Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin will face off against his teammate Chase Briscoe, along with Kyle Larson and William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports. All four drivers will compete for the season’s biggest prize, the NASCAR Cup Series title.
