Kyle Larson praises Denny Hamlin for winning Las Vegas drive

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin put on quite the show in Sin City on Sunday evening. 

Larson and Hamlin battled hard for second place in the closing laps of Sunday's South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with Hamlin eventually driving away and passing Chase Briscoe for the race win. 

Larson was able to get around Briscoe and snag second, but it was still a day that could've been much more for Larson. 

Before the final two cautions of the day, Larson was leading the race and looked to be in control. After a slight bobble from William Byron allowed Larson to take the lead with 36 laps to go, Byron crashed with Ty Dillon with 31 laps to go, leading to a mix of pit strategies. 

Larson was unable to hold off Hamlin in the race's waning moments and had to settle for second on a day when he easily could've been standing in victory lane. 

Kyle Larson praises Denny Hamlin's late-race drive

"He did an awesome job," Larson told USA Network regarding Hamlin's late-race effort. "He got up on the wheel there. I feel like I was up on the wheel. He did a great job. Hats off to them."

Larson is 35 points above the playoff cut line as the circuit heads to Talladega for the second race of the Round of 8 on Oct. 19.