Denny Hamlin faced a sudden and shocking end to his race at Texas Motor Speedway after flames erupted from under his No. 11 Toyota Camry, forcing him out of the event just six laps before the end of Stage 1. The experienced Joe Gibbs Racing driver, competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, made it clear in his post-race interview that he attempted to prevent the car from “full detonating,” hoping his quick actions would help the team identify the root of the problem.
The incident, suspected to be caused by an engine issue that triggered an oil fire, marked Hamlin’s first did-not-finish of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. As the fire took hold, Hamlin abruptly dropped his pace, but the situation escalated quickly, leaving little room for recovery. Speaking with the media afterward, Denny Hamlin offered his take on the event:
You know, you try to limit the damage and just get it back so the guys have something to look at. It’s frustrating.
Discussing whether such engine problems might be part of a wider trend, Hamlin responded with caution, especially after recent issues experienced by drivers like Ryan Blaney. Notably, Blaney’s troubles were seen as isolated, with no signs yet of systemic technical failures spreading through the field. Nonetheless, Hamlin’s 38th-place finish at Texas joined the rare ranks of his DNFs at Fort Worth, only the second in 36 career starts at the venue.
Hamlin’s day was already complicated by a miscommunication over the team radio, which led to him being shuffled to the back of the pack after a caution, following Noah Gragson’s spin. The confusion over a code meant that while other drivers pitted, Hamlin was left at a clear disadvantage, compounding the setbacks that defined his day.
Despite the drama and early exit, Denny Hamlin’s overall standings remain stable, holding firmly in third place with 338 points and tallying five top-five finishes, including consecutive wins at Martinsville and Darlington. Still, for Hamlin and his crew, the Texas incident serves as a cautionary moment, raising tough questions about reliability and race-day execution that could shape the rest of his season.
