BRISTOL, Tenn – You know a popular win was on the horizon when the race winner says that “he’s the absolute last person I wanted to pass” in that situation. But, Denny Hamlin owed it to his sponsors and his team to do so.

Hamlin, passed Matt DiBenedetto on Lap 488 of Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at the Bristol (Tenn) Motor Speedway and never looked back en route to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory this weekend.

For DiBenedetto, he had to settle for a runner-up in his No. 95 Toyota. It was an emotional career best finish for the Leavine Family Racing driver.

See, the California native made a statement this weekend. He revealed on Thursday that he wouldn’t be back with his team in 2020. They organization had to go in a different direction despite DiBenedetto giving them the best results that they’ve ever had.

It wasn’t anything DiBenedetto could have done. If he would have won, they still likely would have pushed him aside for Christopher Bell. Imagine doing your job to the fullest for a company not getting these kind of results before you and despite that, they let you know before your contract is up that they’re not bringing you back next year.

That’s the situation that DiBenedetto was in heading into this weekend and he produced. DiBenedetto, was fourth and first respectively in practice on Friday and second and third respectively on the 10 lap averages too. He qualified well and led a race high 93 of 500 laps.

He had a shot to win in the end but Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota was just a tough better in the end.

“I wanted to win so bad,” an emotional DiBenedetto said following his third top six finish in the last five weeks. “I’m grateful they gave me this opportunity. I’m so thankful. I’m sad.”

DiBenedetto, got into Ryan Newman a bit in the closing stages when Newman who was trying so hard to remain on the lead lap came up in front of him to defend his position. Unfortunately, it damaged DiBenedetto’s front left corner of his car just enough to cause the handling to change.

“We got tight when Newman got into us,” DiBenedetto continued. “Congrats to Denny (Hamlin). He raced hard. I’m trying not to get emotional but it’s been a tough week. I just want to stick around. I love it. I’m not done yet. I’m here to win. It’s been a hard week.”