At Phoenix Raceway, Kevin Harvick openly expressed his distress over Denny Hamlin‘s championship loss, drawing a comparison to his own experience in 2020. The Denny Hamlin championship loss became a major talking point after Hamlin’s team, despite a strong season, fell short at the NASCAR Cup Series finale.
Harvick Relates Hamlin’s Loss to His Own Painful Experience
Kevin Harvick voiced empathy for Hamlin, recounting the raw frustration from his own dashed title hopes after a dominant nine-win campaign three years prior. Hamlin entered the season’s last race with six victories and optimism following a crew chief change, a decision that had paid off—until Phoenix. In the final moments, Hamlin’s leading car opted for a four-tire change on the overtime restart, a call that ultimately backfired as traffic trapped the No. 11, ending his championship bid.
This same tire strategy had worked for Corey Heim in the Truck Series but did not yield success for Hamlin. Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, reflected that choosing four tires was only seen as a mistake after the fact, maintaining it was the logical choice under pressure at the time.
Harvick Shares His Emotional Reaction to Hamlin’s Heartbreak
Harvick opened up about his personal response to Hamlin’s loss on his Happy Hour podcast, explaining how the emotional toll of falling short in similar circumstances lingers well beyond the checkered flag.
“I feel absolutely gutted for Denny Hamlin with everything that they put together this year,”
he said,
“The dominant car that they had….knowing the scenario with his dad and and everything that is happening for him. [0:49 onwards]”
– Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
“You saw the comments after the race of just him saying I don’t even know if I want to drive a car again now I will tell you that’s normal when you’re in this situation and I felt like that in 2020 you know you go out and win nine races and don’t win the championship and what you feel like is the dominant car all year long except for that one event, you’re mad,”
he added. – Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
Other NASCAR personalities weighed in, including Kyle Petty, who stated that Hamlin remained a deserving champion despite falling short on paper.
Comparing Hamlin and Larson’s Performance Throughout the Season
Looking across the season, some analysts have argued that Kyle Larson, who ousted Hamlin for the Cup, posted stronger stats in certain categories. Both drivers posted similar average starts and finishes, but Larson held a slight edge in those metrics. Larson’s tally of top-10 and top-5 finishes surpassed Hamlin’s, and he also led more laps through the season.
Despite both Hamlin (of Joe Gibbs Racing) and Larson (of Hendrick Motorsports) eclipsing the thousand-lap mark, Larson stood ahead statistically. Heading into the NASCAR award ceremony, Hamlin commented on the circumstances surrounding the outcome.
“There’s a difference in ‘deserving’ and ‘should’ve been’, right? I think that there’s not one person that should ever question his deservingness of being a champion. That’s what I don’t like to see.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
Although Hamlin admitted to feeling torn that his loss is overshadowing Larson’s achievement, he acknowledged Larson’s long wait for another victory, which ended a stretch of 24 races without a win since joining Hendrick Motorsports. Meanwhile, Larson took time during his championship speech at the awards gala to offer Hamlin special recognition for a hard-fought year.
What This Means for NASCAR’s Top Competitors
The events at Phoenix underlined the unpredictable nature of championship day, with tire and pit stop strategies again taking center stage. Decisions made under intense pressure can secure a season or undo months of hard work, as seen with the No. 11 team’s four-tire move. For Hamlin and Harvick, these moments reinforce both the agony and the relentless spirit that drive top NASCAR competitors. As leading drivers, teams, and fans continue to digest the finale, the impact of the Denny Hamlin championship loss will likely influence off-season discussions, strategies, and personal motivations heading into the next racing year.
He's happy for Kyle Larson but feels "absolutely gutted" for Denny Hamlin. @KevinHarvick's thoughts on Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/NKggtmGz9V
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) November 6, 2025
