Denny Hamlin has opened up on his post-race moment with Joey Logano after the Team Penske star won his first NASCAR Cup Series race of the year.
Logano led a career-high 323 laps at North Wilkesboro, but was made to work hard by Hamlin to break his winless streak, the pair separated by under a second out front for much of the final run.
The No. 22 car had the ultimate pace though, especially when passing the droves of lapped cars at the 0.625-mile short track, allowing Logano to be the man doing a full-lap burnout after the chequered flag.
Hamlin headed over to the wall to speak to his long-time rival just before speaking to TNT post-race, their former animosity apparently forgotten as the points leader congratulated his old adversary.
READ MORE: NASCAR Results Today: Denny Hamlin denied by dominant Joey Logano at North Wilkesboro
Hamlin: We have to regroup
When he got back to the TNT cameras, Hamlin said of Logano's drive: “You just have to compliment them on a great day and a great drive. They were really good. There were a lot of times that I felt like my car was really close to where it needed to be; it was just a smidge off.
“Great battle. At least I was able to keep them honest there, but he had a lot of speed and never gave up on the short run or the long run, so great job to our whole Progressive Toyota team for keeping us in the ballgame, but we will have to go regroup.”
He added: “Wildly impressive. I thought it was a really impressive drive from him, and he maneuvered through traffic really well and did everything that we know Joey to do.”
Logano himself gave Hamlin a lot of credit for his race, admitting that track position on the final run was probably the deciding factor in the race win.
“Yeah, the pressure was there, for sure," he said. "Denny got really good there the last run. Honestly, it was whoever was out front was going to win the race.
“We were pretty dominant. But as the race went along, Denny got better at the last run. Just did a decent job keeping up with the track. They did a good job keeping up.”
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