AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — NASCAR bristled at the notion race fans might be skeptical if Denny Hamlin is penalized at any point in the title-deciding finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Hamlin is in the final four of Sunday's winner-take-all race as a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. As co-owner of 23XI Racing, he's entangled in a contentious antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR that is hurtling toward a Dec. 1 trial.

He has maintained that NASCAR and its at-track officials have treated both Hamlin and 23XI fairly with no bogus penalties and no increased scrutiny on the teams as their cars go through inspection.

But, Hamlin has a longtime problem with speeding on pit road and has been flagged for it five times through 37 races. NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell sternly answered “No” when asked if there was a

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