Denny Hamlin’s hopes for a long-awaited championship were dashed at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday after a critical pit decision, bringing his Denny Hamlin pit strategy under intense scrutiny. The No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE crew chose to change all four tires during the overtime restart, a move that ultimately saw Hamlin beaten by Kyle Larson, who gambled on just two tires and secured his own championship glory.
Hamlin, who has battled at the top level of NASCAR for two decades, faced one of his most disappointing moments as his title ambition slipped away. The pit choice—shifting to four fresh tires instead of the more aggressive two-tire approach—sparked debate across the motorsport community.
NASCAR Analysts Debate Hamlin’s Pit Decision
The aftermath brought a wave of analysis, with voices in the NASCAR world weighing in on whether four tires was a fatal error or a calculated risk. Former crew chief Steve Letarte, appearing on NASCAR: Inside The Race, voiced a strong defense for Hamlin’s team.
“If I’m Chris Gale, I take four tires. And here’s why. Danny Hamlin has had a monster day. He has the best car. It’s 20 years in the making. Our job on top of the pit box is to deliver the opportunity for our drivers to be a superstar.”
– Steve Letarte, Former Crew Chief
Letarte further contended that, despite the hindsight criticism, the result was far from predetermined.
“I really think I believe that if you run this restart five or six times, it’s a coin flip whether four tires work. And I know everybody’s going to tell me I’m wrong cuz they know the results already. But I’m telling you, if you run this data multiple times, I am not sure it’s just obvious that the four tires lose.”
– Steve Letarte, Former Crew Chief
Adding to the discussion, former driver Kyle Petty highlighted a key moment on the track that he believed decided the outcome.
“Denny got pinned in on the bottom and the cars were coming back to Denny as Larson’s lane was moving forward and that was the separation. That was the race right there for me watching the race.”
– Kyle Petty, Former Driver
Crew Chief Chris Gayle Stands by His Strategy
Hamlin’s chance to win hinged on his late restart, where he found himself back in 10th following the four-tire change. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, one of several drivers who opted for just two new tires, restarted in fifth, giving him a critical advantage in track position. Despite the outcome, Chris Gayle, crew chief for the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing vehicle, publicly justified his call after the race.
“For a second I could think, ‘oh, well if I took two tires,’ I don’t know if that would have worked. The No. 5 was doing it, this was their only shot. Really, it was gonna dictate on just how many other cars stayed and fit in between you. I think four tires was the right call, it just didn’t get clear on the bottom, and I thought for a split second we were.”
– Chris Gayle, Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief
The risks of pit lane strategy on the final restart brought heartbreak for the veteran driver, as Hamlin watched his once-bright title chances fade under the Phoenix lights. Key figures like Letarte and Petty emphasized that the decision, while scrutinized after the fact, was rooted in racing experience and genuine belief in what could deliver victory.
Lingering Impact of a Costly Call
Hamlin’s defeat at Phoenix Raceway underscores just how thin the line can be between triumph and disappointment in NASCAR’s biggest moments. Every choice made during those tense overtime laps becomes amplified, especially when a championship is on the line. For Hamlin, Chris Gayle, and the entire No. 11 Toyota team, the focus now shifts to how they will address split-second decisions in future title fights, with the lessons of this heartbreak certain to shape strategies in high-stakes races still to come.
Chris Gayle pic.twitter.com/naiciqBYCc
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) November 3, 2025
