It appeared to be shaping up as the weekend of his life, and then it all went south with less than twenty laps to go.

That’s when Denny Hamlin’s right front tire began going soft, ruining his perfect weekend. After leading 381 of the 410 total laps, Hamlin was left to limp home 24th, two laps down.

Although he admits the last few days have been rough, Hamlin pointed out Monday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway it felt good to be back at the race track. However, dealing with the frustration and disappointment from Saturday’s race in Richmond has not been easy for the Virginia-native.

“Everyone knows, that’s close to me…I don’t like to be consoled,” Hamlin explained. “I don’t like – when someone says, ‘Hey, we know…’ I don’t want to hear it – just don’t talk to me. So, it was quiet, for 24 hours it was very quiet for anyone who was around me.”

Disappointment cannot begin to sum up Hamlin’s feelings following Saturday night’s race. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was dominating the Cup Series race in front of his home town crowd, he was doing so from the pole, had won the Nationwide race the night before and had announced the Denny Hamlin Foundation two days before. Going into the race Hamlin was on cloud nine, but by lap 382 that all changed.

“I didn’t sleep at all,” Hamlin went on to say. “I didn’t sleep at all, but I really don’t usually on nights after a race, but that one I just stayed up for 24 hours. There was just no way I could have [slept]. I just watched ESPN and Sportscenter, watched some basketball games…I had my roommates with me, but they didn’t want to talk to me for sure. Literally not one word was spoken from them picking me up, taking me home and going in our rooms – not one word spoken. I think everyone knew how much we let that one slip away.”

Hamlin will have another shot at earning that elusive win at his home track one more time this year, as the schedule heads to Richmond International Raceway in September. The final race before the Chase for the Sprint Cup, this event is already full of pressure and importance, but this home-town favorite will certainly feel the additional pressure of finally closing the deal and earning that win.