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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 04: NASCAR Cup Series driver, Denny Hamlin speaks to the media during NASCAR Champions week at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on November 04, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The 2025 championship at Phoenix Raceway is still discussed in the NASCAR world due to the emotional end. Denny Hamlin was leading the majority of the race and appeared set to finally gain that long-awaited crown, but that slipped out in the last few laps. During overtime, Kyle Larson took a risk and won the second NASCAR Cup Series championship.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck, Hamlin admitted the defeat hit harder than anything in his career. “In this moment, I never want to race a car ever again,” he told reporters after the race. Speaking again before the NASCAR Awards ceremony, Hamlin said, “I plan to [race]; I have a contract to. But at this point, there’s absolutely no way that I would even, I don’t even think about race cars right now. I’m gonna need some time on this one.”
Denny Hamlin’s Race That Slipped Away
Denny Hamlin led the majority of the race; it appeared that the 44-year-old with Joe Gibbs Racing could take his first trophy in the Cup Series championship. However, with three laps to go, everything went off. A flat tire saw William Byron hit the wall, and a caution caused the race to enter overtime.
At pit stops, the crew of Hamlin changed four tires. Larson crew took two, saving a lot of time and overtaking the track. That choice mattered. Larson came in third, which was enough to claim the title. Hamlin completed sixth and finished in second place at the end of the season.
“I felt like I did my job everywhere and even beat everyone for most of the scheduled distance,” Hamlin said, according to The Athletic. “But it just went longer, and unfortunately, on that last lap, I saw my fate right in front of me.”
Processing the Pain
Denny Hamlin said the loss was unlike anything he had ever felt in his career. “There was no pain that’s even close to this,” he told Jeff Gluck. He also admitted he didn’t realize Larson was ahead until the final lap. “I only had three-quarters of a lap to say, ‘Oh my God, he’s gonna win.’ That’s when I knew it was over.”
Despite the heartbreak, Hamlin made a brief appearance at Larson’s championship party that night to show support. “I was just trying to do the right thing as a friend,” he said. “Regardless of my feelings and emotions that evening, it was important for me to go show him support.”
Denny Hamlin also faced another challenge: helping his young daughters cope with the loss. He used the moment to teach them that “life is not always fair and things don’t always happen the way they’re supposed to.”
What Comes Next for Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing
Denny Hamlin still has a contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. He says that he will return, but he requires time to recover emotionally before he can race again. “I’ll get over it,” he said, “it’s just gonna take a minute.” The loss at Phoenix was Hamlin’s sixth missed chance at a championship.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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