CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The NASCAR championship was in clear reach when Denny Hamlin made his final pit stop in last year’s title-deciding finale. With everything on the line, his crew chief went with an aggressive adjustment aimed at gaining one last burst of speed.
Chris Gabehart called for a large, thick patch of tape across the front right side of the No. 11 Toyota. It was a gamble Gabehart was willing to take, believing “you’ve got to dance with the fire to beat these guys.”
The aerodynamic adjustment backfired, Hamlin had to pit again to avoid overheating his engine, and his title chances were over.