NASCAR championship push tinged with sadness for Joe Gibbs

Denny Hamlin waits in the garage for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice to begin on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Hamlin is one of four drivers racing for the series championship. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Team owner Joe Gibbs watches practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Gibbs, soon to turn 79, won three Super Bowls coaching the Washington Redskins and can win his fifth NASCAR Cup Series championship if Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin have the best finish. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Denny Hamlin waits in the garage for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice to begin on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Hamlin is one of four drivers racing for the series championship. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Team owner Joe Gibbs watches practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Gibbs, soon to turn 79, won three Super Bowls coaching the Washington Redskins and can win his fifth NASCAR Cup Series championship if Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin have the best finish. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)