The most anticipated Truck Series race of the year ended on a rather anti-climactic note when the champion was crowned largely for avoiding getting entangled in a wreck. As championship favorites Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar spun each other out, Ben Rhodes inched past Grant Enfinger in the final overtime restart.

The series of cautions and novice driving brought about disparaging remarks from experienced Cup Series drivers awaiting their own race in Phoenix. Apart from the young drivers, Denny Hamlin also hinted the chaos was a result of NASCAR’s mismanagement.

Denny Hamlin comes down sharply on race organizers after unbelievable Truck Series championship

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin was eliminated in the round of 8 in Martinsville despite an outstanding performance throughout the year. If not for his #11 Toyota’s steering issues in Homestead, Hamlin would have secured a place in the Championship 4 race this Sunday. Despite having an upper hand in the first two rounds of playoffs, the JGR driver remained outspoken about the playoff format.

Hamlin is clearly not a fan of the current system. He has previously indicated that the current system rewarded chaos over consistency, especially in the final winner-takes-all run at the Phoenix Raceway. These opinions were reaffirmed when the Truck Series race extended 29 laps into the fourth overtime restart to determine the season’s victor. In the final 30 laps, Carson Hocevar rammed into Corey Heim, putting a roadblock in both of their title pursuits.

Heim soon reciprocated, beginning a series of cautions that severely delayed the race outcome. It didn’t seem too far-fetched to envision a scenario where none of the top four drivers would be left on track to compete. As the young drivers crashed and collided without intervention, Denny Hamlin shared a cryptic post on his social media account. He alluded to “the show” without rules and regulations.

Excessive mid-race involvement of the governing body would likely come with its own share of issues. However, the recent truck race served as a contrasting case study to NASCAR president Steve Phelps’ assessment of the contentious format.

Watch this story: Denny Hamlin: From Underdog to Champion?

NASCAR continued to justify “gimmicky” playoffs ahead of the season culminating races

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Denny Hamlin’s criticism came at an interesting juncture when changes to the playoff format are increasingly being demanded. The #11 driver insisted he did not wish to target a specific series or even NASCAR as a whole. Yet, the timing of his tweet immediately after the disorganized truck battle gave the directions of his allegations away.

Moreover, in an ironic twist, the consequences of a one-race championship decider came to light following its fierce defense by Steve Phelps. Prior to the Truck race in Phoenix, the NASCAR president waxed lyrical about the merits of the current playoff system. He even assured that it only sought to award the best racer of the season at the NASCAR media conference.

Phelps claimed, “I think we’ve got the best racing in the world, and I think it’s the most competitive racing in the world. When we crown that champion on Sunday, that champion is going to be very deserving. I’ve heard some things, there were people like, ‘Hey, listen, this is gimmicky’. It’s not. It’s an incredible, incredible playoff system that rewards the best drivers in our sport.”

Perhaps the Xfinity and Cup Series races would fare better in their respective races, but Denny Hamlin and regular-season champion Martin Truex Jr’s elimination would really force the question of whether the best drivers were truly rewarded last weekend.

“He’s Driving Like an Idiot” – Denny Hamlin Ruthlessly Trashes Carson Hocevar’s Cup Series Antics, Echoes Dale Jr’s Payback Warning