The controversial pit incident involving Kyle Larson at Phoenix Raceway reignited debate among racing fans, as Hamlin’s spotter Chris Lambert weighed in on the decision-making during the dramatic finish. The pivotal Kyle Larson Phoenix pitstop remains a focal point in discussions about strategy choices that impacted the outcome of the Cup Series finale.
Lambert Offers Insight on Chaotic Phoenix Pit Stops
Chris Lambert, serving as Denny Hamlin‘s spotter during the Phoenix race, provided new details surrounding the intense sequence of pit stops late in the event. As the field prepared for a green-white-checkered finish, Lambert noted he could see several cars opting for two tires but could not confirm what strategy Kyle Larson’s team enacted.
“No, could not see the 5 stall from the stand. All I was able to say on channel 2 was ‘lots of twos,’”
Lambert shared, explaining the limited visibility and information he had in real-time.
Each of the final four drivers in the title hunt at Phoenix brought strong credentials, but Denny Hamlin appeared to have a dominant car as the laps dwindled. The strategic call made by his crew chief, Chris Gayle, to take four tires during the last pit sequence diverged from the two-tire stops chosen by Larson and several others. This decision resulted in Hamlin returning to the track in tenth position, while rivals like Larson lept ahead. Trapped in traffic, Hamlin’s championship hopes faded as Larson secured a prime spot for the closing laps, ultimately boosting his bid for the 2025 Cup Series crown.
Richard Petty and Kraft React to Four-Tire Strategy
The aftermath of the race saw widespread debate in NASCAR circles regarding the pit stop calls, particularly the tactic selected by Chris Gayle for Hamlin. NASCAR legend Richard Petty voiced concern, pointing a finger at the series for failing to provide adequate tire allocation for such high-stakes moments, underscoring the significant consequences small differences in tire strategy can yield in title-deciding scenarios.
Bubba Wallace‘s spotter Freddie Kraft added nuance to the conversation, examining the reasoning behind the four-tire stop on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. Kraft defended Chris Gayle’s calculated risk, pointing out how easy it is for fans to second-guess with hindsight.
“I think there’s a lot of Monday morning quarterbacks saying Gayle should have done two[tires],”
he said,
“Obviously in the hindsight, yes, he probably should have done two. For Gayle, he just put four on and it worked out, he took the lead off a turn too essentially, on the first lap, so I got the best car, I’m going to fire four on it and let my guy go execute a restart like he just did and win the championship.”
— Freddie Kraft, Spotter for Bubba Wallace
He went further, describing Gayle’s mindset even if the intel about other drivers’ two-tire stops was available:
“So I don’t even know that even if Lambert told him these guys are coming on two, he probably said, ‘All right. I don’t give a sh*t, like we’re gonna go beat him like we just did,”
he added. — Freddie Kraft, Spotter for Bubba Wallace
Aftermath: Hamlin Congratulates Larson Amid Media Focus
Despite the costly decision and missing out on the title, Denny Hamlin demonstrated sportsmanship by attending Kyle Larson’s championship celebration in Phoenix, choosing to honor his friend’s accomplishment. Hamlin later shared that he wanted to recognize Larson as a fellow driver and friend, even as conversations continued to fixate largely on Hamlin’s defeat rather than Larson’s impressive performance as a two-time Cup champion.
Intriguingly, the path to Larson’s title stood in stark contrast to Hamlin’s late-race dominance. While Hamlin led laps and appeared poised for victory, Larson made his way to the championship with consistent point accumulation and a string of top-five results, even though he did not win a race during the playoff stretch. Notably, Larson clinched the finale and championship at Phoenix without leading a single lap in the race, a detail that will likely be analyzed by analysts and fans for seasons to come.
Strategic Pit Decisions Shape Future Cup Series Battles
The debate over pit stop tactics at Phoenix is expected to inform Cup Series strategy moving forward, especially concerning late-race calls when championships hang in the balance. With perspectives from leading voices like Chris Lambert and Freddie Kraft, along with pointed critique from legends like Richard Petty, NASCAR teams and fans alike will remember the dramatic Kyle Larson Phoenix pitstop and its role in shaping the 2025 championship narrative.
@SiriusXMNASCAR @DanielleTrotta @bobpockrass @jeff_gluck @LarryMac28 @TheMikeBagley @Jordan_Bianchi @DGodfatherMoody For anyone wondering what Denny's spotter could see from the spotters stand and communicate. pic.twitter.com/nRXiEFNzDM
— 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸DUMB 🫏 TRUCKER🏁🏁🏁 (@truckindumbass) November 6, 2025
