Denny Hamlin experienced another painful Denny Hamlin NASCAR championship heartbreak at the 2025 NASCAR Championship Race in Phoenix, where a late-race incident prevented him from claiming his long-elusive first title. Despite his considerable Cup Series success, Hamlin was overtaken in a dramatic finish, extending his record as the winningest driver without a championship.
With an impressive career including three Daytona 500 victories and 60 Cup Series wins, Hamlin appeared poised to finally secure a championship at Phoenix. The race took a dramatic turn when a caution flag in the closing laps sent the field into overtime. During the final pit stop, Hamlin’s team opted for four fresh tires, hoping this would give him an edge in the closing laps.
In contrast, Kyle Larson decided on a quicker two-tire change, which allowed him to exit the pit lane ahead of Hamlin. This strategic move proved pivotal. On the restart, Hamlin struggled to overtake Larson and ultimately watched as Larson captured his second Cup Series championship.
“INCREDIBLE DAY. INCREDIBLE SCENES. 🤯
Kyle Larson is FIRED up as a two-time NASCAR Champion 🔥 pic.twitter.com/spTs0foaHb
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 3, 2025”
Fan Frustration and Playoff Format Under Scrutiny
The abrupt twist in the championship finale contributed to renewed frustration among NASCAR fans regarding the one-race championship format. Critics argue that it allows drivers to win the title without necessarily dominating all season. For example, in the 2024 season, champion Joey Logano’s overall performance would not have placed him in the top ten in the old full-season points system. Similarly, in 2025, Xfinity Series standout Connor Zillisch failed to secure the championship at Phoenix despite registering an outstanding ten victories during the year.
This playoff-based controversy has deeply divided the NASCAR fan community. There is growing sentiment that the league is facing an identity crisis, particularly as new television deals have moved a significant number of races to cable and streaming platforms, resulting in decreased ratings and less visibility for the sport.
Hamlin Responds Directly to NASCAR’s Direction
In the aftermath of his defeat, Denny Hamlin discussed the playoff system and the championship outcome with characteristic candor on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast. Although devastated, Hamlin was clear about the realities facing fans and drivers.
“It doesn’t make me want to race right now in this moment anymore. They could say 36 races, which they’re not, everyone just get over it. You’re going to get playoffs,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
“But the offseason is still so fresh I want nothing to do with racing still, right now.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Hamlin voiced his perspective on the championship format, emphasizing the frustration he and other leading drivers experience when a single race can upend a season’s worth of effort. He cited fellow championship contenders William Byron, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick, stating they collectively support determining the championship over a longer span of races.
“For people like myself, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, I think we’re all for a bigger sample size. I think if I didn’t list your name, of course you love the one race playoff because it rewards mediocrity for the bulk of the season and it allows you to just, you’ve never had one ripped out of your hands. You’ve taken out of people’s hands, but you’ve never had it ripped out. So you don’t know what that feels like, you don’t know what it feels like to dominate a season and then all of a sudden a format or whatever keeps resetting the score on you and then finally you end up losing in overtime.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Uncertainty Surrounds NASCAR’s Future Championship Format
NASCAR’s recently released 2026 schedule includes ten races labeled as playoff events, but the specifics of the future championship format remain unclear. Whether the league retains the current tiered elimination system, transitions to a multi-race championship round, or restores the original ten-race Chase for the Championship approach is yet to be determined.
Calls for a full-season championship, as promoted by legends like Mark Martin, continue to circulate. Nevertheless, 2026 appears unlikely to mark a return to the traditional format that long-time fans and some drivers favor. Amid these debates, prominent NASCAR figures such as Joey Logano, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Connor Zillisch, and Denny Hamlin remain central voices as the sport navigates this pivotal period of change.
The future of the sports’ playoff system and its impact on crowning deserving champions remains a source of division, with upcoming seasons expected to fuel continued discussion among fans, drivers, and NASCAR leadership.
INCREDIBLE DAY. INCREDIBLE SCENES. 🤯
Kyle Larson is FIRED up as a two-time NASCAR Champion 🔥 pic.twitter.com/spTs0foaHb
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 3, 2025
