Hamlin, other contenders wreck late while fighting for second

With 52 of 267 laps remaining in the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway, Hamlin drove in between Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson – who were both battling for second place.

Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota appeared to get loose and he began to spin, as did Keselowski. Hamlin also collected Larson and Joey Logano in the accident.

“It just looked like the 2 got loose and then the 11 got loose," said Logano. "I was hoping the 11 would come down the hill and when you’re in the smoke you can’t see anything. I hit the wall, so I knew where that was and I just kept riding and riding and hoping the 11 would come down the hill because I couldn’t see and he stayed up there and I got him right in the door. It’s unfortunate.

"We made some good changes on it and actually made it to where I thought it was a possible winning car with all the circumstances going right and with those restarts the way they were, maybe we would have been able to capitalize. It’s just racing."

With Keselowski and Logano damaged, Team Penske was essentially eliminated from contention for the victory and the incident ruined one of best races Larson had been running this season. However, Keselowski was able to rebound and still score a tenth place finish.

“I was going for it and I wasn’t letting off,” Hamlin said after the accident. “The No. 42 (Larson) was just too close up there. We were trying to clear each other and I just got loose.

“It’s a shame. Our car was a fast car today.”