The NASCAR 2025 Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway delivered a dramatic finish as Denny Hamlin’s championship heartbreak played out in front of racing fans. Hamlin controlled most of the race, but a single pit strategy decision and a late-race caution allowed Kyle Larson to seize victory and claim his second series title, while emotions ran high at this high-stakes showdown.
Denny Hamlin’s Lead Undone by Pivotal Strategy
Denny Hamlin set the pace at Phoenix, consistently staying ahead during lengthy green-flag stretches on a track known for punishing even small mistakes. Throughout the heart of the race, veteran analyst and former driver Kevin Harvick noticed Hamlin’s dominance, remarking,
“This was just one of those races where I was sitting at home, and they said, ‘Well, had by far the dominant car all day long.”
– Kevin Harvick, Analyst
As the final laps approached, Hamlin maintained both speed and composure, keeping his focus on protecting his car in hopes of crossing the finish line first. Harvick elaborated on Hamlin’s mindset when he relayed,
“I told them, ‘I’m going to put everything right to the end of this race, not blowing a tire”
– Kevin Harvick, Analyst. This decision led Hamlin’s team to bring him in for fresh tires shortly before the end, aiming to maintain both speed and safety to the finish.
However, the plan encountered an unexpected obstacle: just after Hamlin’s stop, a late caution forced NASCAR’s field together for a dramatic restart. With the race setting up for overtime, Hamlin was shuffled deeper in the pack under NASCAR’s restart rules. Having lost track position, he now faced intense pressure from traffic while Kyle Larson was able to move ahead, showing how quickly a single call and circumstance can rewrite the story of a championship pursuit.
Kyle Larson Capitalizes on the Final Restart
With the field reset for overtime, Kyle Larson took full advantage of the moment. He kept his car low, stayed in clean air, and sprinted forward at the restart, ultimately seizing control at the critical juncture. Harvick commented on the moment, saying,
“And it was for the 24 bunch. He beat the system, the format that is in place,”
– Kevin Harvick, Analyst. These moves, executed at precisely the right time, secured Larson’s championship win after a race-long game of patience and strategy.
Larson’s patient approach allowed him to remain close and ready for opportunity, and when the restart placed Hamlin in heavy traffic, Larson executed a decisive charge. As a result, the final outcome was determined not only by who had the fastest car, but by who was best positioned during the race’s climactic reset, providing Larson with his second championship and sending his crew into celebration.
Raw Emotion and Reflections from Pit Road
After the checkered flag, the mood around pit road shifted instantly, marked by both high emotions and notable disappointment. Harvick described the postrace scene:
“Everything after the race, the road was super with excitement and just devastated.”
– Kevin Harvick, Analyst. As Larson and his team began to celebrate, Hamlin confronted the pain of watching a strong lead unravel because of one sequence of decisions and events.
Harvick summed up the sting of defeat and the narrow line between triumph and heartbreak in high-level competition, noting,
“I mean, that’s got to be that you could possibly say it after the race, the championship in this car. You saw the comments, just him saying, ‘That’s normal when you’re,’ and I felt like that. And win nine races is the dominant car, except for that one event. Comes down to circumstances is championship from a day.”
– Kevin Harvick, Analyst
The race at Phoenix Raceway underscored an enduring truth of stock car racing: even the most dominant performance is vulnerable to circumstances and split-second strategic calls. For Hamlin, a championship heartbreak was sealed by one pivotal restart and a field tightened by fate. For Larson, expert timing and patience in traffic secured another memorable title for himself and his team. This NASCAR 2025 Cup Series Championship will be remembered for the way momentum, strategy, and emotion collided, creating an unforgettable end to the season.
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
