AVONDALE, Ariz. — Denny Hamlin didn’t show much emotion as he talked about how another title slipped away. It was more shock and disbelief than sadness that he had lost the 2025 championship. And that’s saying something, considering he had seemingly lost championships in every way possible. Hamlin admitted, “I’m not feeling very emotional right now.” “I’m just numb about it because I’m just in shock. This is all there is to it.Hamlin appeared in disbelief after losing a comfortable advantage with less than 3 laps to go when the caution was called for a William Byron puncture and ensuing accident Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. Denny Hamlin, Jordan Fish and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship team at Phoenix Raceway. He had a chance after the caution was sounded. Hamlin finished sixth, while Larson was second. But for Hamlin, anything that wasn’t the best among the four finalists resulted in bitter disappointment. Hamlin, 44, is the most successful driver in the Cup with 60 wins. He has yet to win a Cup championship.”When you do not win the race and you don’t lead a lapping, but you win championship, you steal the title from a man who has been trying so hard for so many years. It’s a really weird feeling,” Larson said after winning his second Cup title.For the fifth time in his career, Hamlin came up short in the championship race where the driver who finishes best among the four championship-eligible finalists wins the title.Hamlin told reporters that the team was 40 seconds short of a championship. It’s unfortunate. Only difference is that the warnings used to come a little earlier.You work so hard! You can be driven to madness by this sport because speed, talent and all the rest of it don’t always matter. Denny Hamlin’s pit stops could become the story of the day. Hamlin’s father Dennis was not present, so he knew Sunday would be the last time he could see his dad win.Hamlin stated, “I did the best I could.” “Everything that I prepared for today happened. I felt that we responded. … I did very well in restarts. We had been bad on restarts throughout the majority of this year. The team brought in a championship car that was fantastic. I thought I had it down to a science until I got two laps left. This is where it gets bad.Hamlin was emotional in a pre-race press conference, but said that he felt composed throughout the race. Hamlin controlled the race for the most part, but he was dropped to 11th place when he suffered a flat under caution. Hamlin fell short of his good friend Larson. Larson was able use the momentum from the outside lane in order to maintain a few extra spots. Hamlin dived into the inside lane on the restart. However, he couldn’t clear several cars.Hamlin claimed that Kyle Larson had the trophy, “but we dominated.” “We did what we were supposed to do.” We did our best.They’re a champion team and championship driver. There’s a whole lot more they can win than just these two. I believe it was clear who was the winner today, when everyone brought their best.”Larson would agree with that and as a good friend of Hamlin’s, knows how much it stings.Larson admitted that a part of him was sad. “I am sure that all of us here, even Denny’s detractors, have a place where we are sad. “That’s competition. It’s a format. It’s strange, don’t you think? It’s still a dream of mine that he will experience it one day.”Hamlin wasn’t the only one in shock. Denny’s disappointment at Phoenix was due to his failure to win another NASCAR Championship. Joe Gibbs also struggled to find the right words. All of Hamlin’s Cup victories have come for Gibbs, and Hamlin has challenged for Cup titles since as early as 2010.”It’s really difficult,” Gibbs said. “It’s a heartbreak for everybody here. I don’t think there’s much else to say. I think we did. [our best]. Some of the things you can’t control.”Crew chief Chris Gayle wouldn’t second-guess the decision to take four tires.”For a split second, I thought about it. ‘Oh, well, if I took two tires,’Gayle replied. “I don’t know if this would have worked. [Larson] This was their last chance, and this would dictate how many other vehicles stayed between you and who could fit.”Four wheels was the best decision. It was just not clear on the bottom. I thought we were there for a moment, but then it was gone. [Larson] The chaos begins when you get the outside run.”Hamlin didn’t feel he could have done much more than try to make the run on the inside. But that didn’t pan out.Hamlin replied, “I cannot do anything different.” “I prepared as well as I could for the weekend. My team gave me an amazing car. The plan didn’t pan out. I was praying for no warning. I had one.What can you say? It was just not meant to happen.”After the race, Hamlin had to console his bawling daughters, trying to tell them that sometimes things don’t go your way.Hamlin described it as “one of those life lessons you’ll learn many years from now.” Hamlin is a full-time Cup racer since 2006 and has two years of full-time racing left after signing a contract for two additional seasons.Hamlin added, “I still have a couple of chances to win.” “Man, if that’s the one you can’t get, I don’t know what you can do.Hamlin is willing to wait for the shock to wear off.Hamlin declared, “I don’t ever want to race another car.” “My fun-meter is pegged.Bob Pockrass is the NASCAR and INDYCAR reporter for FOX Sports. He has covered motorsports for decades, including more than 30 Daytona 500s. He worked at ESPN, Sporting News magazine, NASCAR Scene magazine, and The (Daytona Beach News-Journal). Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
2025-11-03 03:28:29
Denny Hamlin ‘In Shock’ after Elusive Cup Title Slips through Fingertips
