Denny Hamlin NASCAR championship heartbreak became one of the most talked-about moments of the 2025 Cup Series season, after an emotional loss at Phoenix Raceway deprived him of the elusive title. Hamlin led the majority of the race but ultimately missed out, underscoring a career marked by near-misses despite consistent excellence.
Hamlin Leads Most Laps but Falls Short at Phoenix
After nearly two weeks since the season finale, the pain of defeat remains fresh for Denny Hamlin, who had dominated the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship race by starting on pole and leading 208 laps at Phoenix Raceway. Despite boasting the most laps led, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran watched as rival Kyle Larson, representing Hendrick Motorsports, clinched the title after finishing as the highest among the championship contenders. Hamlin, meanwhile, crossed the line in sixth place, another tough finish in his bid for a first series championship.
Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Hamlin revealed his realization during his Actions Detrimental podcast. He recounted:
“I thought he was the third car on the outside of me. So when I go into Turn 3, and I clear whoever those cars are, I thought that was it. I thought I was past him at that point.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
“It’s not till we crossed the white and we went to the dogleg and the cars fanned out where you could see them all,”
he continued.
“And I saw the #5 with three-quarters of a mile to go, and I knew at that point, ‘Oh my God. It’s over.’ At that point I knew that he had won (and) we had lost.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
Kyle Larson managed a third-place finish overall, beating out the other championship hopefuls for the 2025 crown. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney captured the race win—his fourth victory this season—while Hamlin was left to absorb another bitter championship ending.
Strong Season Not Enough to Secure First Title
Even though the conclusion was heartbreaking, Hamlin’s overall performance across the season remained impressive. He consistently finished in the top 10 throughout the campaign and celebrated six race victories during the year. His final win of the season marked his 60th career Cup victory, tying him with former Cup champion Kevin Harvick for 10th on NASCAR’s all-time win list. With three more wins, Hamlin would match two-time champion Kyle Busch, further solidifying his reputation among the elite drivers of the era.
A Personal Motivation: Racing for His Ailing Father
The 2025 championship carried extra weight for Hamlin, who was determined to deliver a title not only for himself but for his father, who has been facing a serious, undisclosed illness. Hamlin previously shared in an interview with Speed Cafe his reasons for pursuing this championship so passionately:
“I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
Though the outcome was disappointing, Hamlin spoke in a recent episode of his podcast about his father’s reaction. He said his father, while naturally upset, accepted how things unfolded.
“He didn’t like the outcome, but I think he was still okay with the result,”
Denny Hamlin said of his father.
“You know, he said to me, just like a lot of people say…he’s like, ‘I don’t know what to say. You had it. You did it. You just don’t have the trophy, that’s it.’”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
Looking Ahead: Hamlin Returns for the Cook Out Clash
Denny Hamlin will seek to put the disappointment behind him when he returns to drive the No. 11 car at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1. The season-opening event will be televised nationally on FOX with radio coverage by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. As Hamlin pursues his next milestone and perhaps another chance at the elusive championship, fans and the NASCAR community will be watching closely to see if one of the sport’s most consistent drivers can finally achieve his long-awaited triumph.
The moment @dennyhamlin knew the Championship was out of reach. 🏁 pic.twitter.com/mXscD7k9uV
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) November 14, 2025
.@dennyhamlin discusses how his dad felt and his words for Denny after the race. 💯 pic.twitter.com/aUpxmyzMqk
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) November 14, 2025
