AVONDALE, Ariz. -- During his post-race question-and-answer session with the media Sunday, Denny Hamlin came to a sudden and sobering realization: Even though he still holds a 15-point cushion over four-time champion Jimmie Johnson with one race remaining, all he and his team have worked so hard for this season could be for naught.

"I felt like we've been the best car over this Chase and we might not win it," Hamlin said.

“

Trust me, I'd rather race next week knowing I need to go out there and I need to win the race than knowing I need to finish 15th.

”

-- DENNY HAMLIN

Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota was a dominating force all race long at Phoenix, leading 190 of the 312 laps and pulling away from the competition on every restart. But Hamlin had to pit for a splash of fuel with 13 laps remaining in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. And when the majority of the other cars on the lead lap were able to make it to the finish line, Hamlin was a disconsolate 12th.

"Usually we have the best fuel mileage," Hamlin said. "That part I just don't understand. I can save fuel pretty well.

"But I was never alerted to save fuel. So I assumed that everyone was going to have to pit. I didn't even think it was a question. Like I said, I did my job."

Because of the way the final two cautions landed, crew chief Mike Ford said attempting to conserve fuel wasn't a viable strategy.

"It wouldn't have made that much of a difference," Ford said. "You weren't going to save that amount of fuel. Had we pitted when the other guys pitted, we were still short. Then when you give up that track position and still have to save, you're not moving forward anyway and you'll probably end up farther back than where we ended up."

Ford called it "a vulnerable situation." And the look in Hamlin's eyes echoed those sentiments. A team that looked unbeatable all day tripped at the most inopportune time. And even though he still has the points lead, there was the unmistakable aura of someone who missed a golden opportunity to put Johnson and Kevin Harvick away.

Hamlin, so confident after his Texas victory seven days ago, spent much of his time convincing the media -- and perhaps himself -- that he's still in control of a situation that suddenly spiraled out of control in the final few laps.

"I guess as soon as I leave Phoenix, I have to leave Phoenix in Phoenix," Hamlin said. "That's the thing is you can't let this [affect you].

"I couldn't control it. I did everything I was supposed to do [Sunday]. Things didn't work out for me."

And instead of becoming a coronation, Homestead suddenly looms as a battlefield. And as military historians are well aware, battles -- much like races -- rarely go as planned. And fortunes turn on a moment's whim.

"All I can do is concentrate on next week once Monday comes and put it behind me," Hamlin said. "So the thing is, it could have been a lot worse. We could have lost the points lead. But regardless, you never know what can happen in the final race. I hate that it boils down to the final race, but that's what's fans love and things like that."

Still, a little of the fiery Denny finally came though when asked how he would approach the season's final race.

"Trust me, I'd rather race next week knowing I need to go out there and I need to win the race than knowing I need to finish 15th," Hamlin said. "That's the mentality I'm going to have next week, is to win the race. The full-court press will be on. It will be one of those things where you'll probably see me as aggressive as I've been all year."

And perhaps looming there for Hamlin is a bit of uncertainty. After being so good for so long during this Chase, the reality is Hamlin's best may still not be good enough to dethrone Johnson.

"If you look at history, it looks good for us," Hamlin said. "But you never know what can happen. This stuff that happened [Sunday] can happen next week and you can't control it. We just hope to have a clean race next week and the best car win. That's all that we can ask for to crown the champ.

"That's the thing, is I'm proud that we've stepped up our performance like we have over these last few weeks. It's very proud for me to be able to do that. So I'm just going to continue to keep digging as hard as I can go and try to beat those guys. It's going to be tough. Those guys are going to be good. We see that every week. They're top five. As far as I'm concerned, it's going to take a win."

Johnson said his team used the No. 11 team's post-Texas comments as a motivational tool all week. Hamlin hinted that the disappointment and frustration he felt Sunday afternoon would be put to similar use.

"I won't need a pep talk," Hamlin said. "Of course, I'm going to be disappointed for the next couple hours. But trust me, when I get home, I'm done with it. I'm going to move on and try how to figure out how to win next week. This is fuel for me.

"I'll be all right. I'll be OK."

But as he got up to leave, the look in Denny Hamlin's eyes wasn't quite so reassuring.

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• Sound Off: Hamlin's post-race comments