“I Don’t Even Think About Race Car!” Denny Hamlin Sparks Retirement Rumors at NASCAR Banquet
Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his thoughts on disappointing championship loss and potential retirement after Phoenix.
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Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin experienced the biggest heartbreak he has ever had on the 2025 Cup season finale. He was lead over 200 laps, and almost locked in the championship with just four laps left before in the race, before William Byron caused a caution, sending the race to overtime.
Denny Hamlin lost the title to Kyle Larson after a mistake with the pit-stop strategy. He was beyond disappointed with the results and on his post-race media session even admitted that he is feeling like “never want to race a car ever again.” This sparked retirement rumors and now at the NASCAR banquet he made more comments admitting he needs time to get over the disappointment and race again.
I plan to, I have a contract to, but at this point, there’s just absolutely no way that I would even… I don’t even think about race car, right now. Yeah, I’m going to need some time on this one.
Denny Hamlin told Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.
When asked about his comment and how much more time it will take him to move on, he admitted that he doesn’t have an answer at the moment. Having the banquet just after the race week, gives everyone a longer offseason and he believes this might be give him enough time to get ready for the 2026 Cup season, first of his final two seasons with JGR.
I mean, the good news is the banquet’s two weeks earlier this year, so the offseason is a little bit longer. I’ll get over it, it’s just gonna take a minute.
Denny Hamlin responded.
Denny Hamlin borrows words from Carl Edwards to share his feelings
In a separate interview on the same day, Denny Hamlin shared more thoughts on the championship loss and highlighted how multiple crazy incidents over the years have cost him the opportunity be title winners. He then borrowed Carl Edwards word’s and admitted for some moments he felt what it is like to be a NASCAR champion.
So, you’ve seen me lose this in so many different ways, right, from the mechanical failures to just crazy things, but I don’t know. This one just adds to the list. … Like nothing changed the way I felt about myself at the end of that race, and to use Carl Edwards’ quote, like ‘I knew what it was like to be a champion.’ I felt it.
Denny Hamlin said.
Further talking about the point, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver pointed out that he experienced the highs of the championship win, when he was forced to perform under the system and almost came close to winning the title. He believes there is nothing better he could’ve done to earn the trophy on Sunday.
With five (laps) to go, I knew it was over. I don’t have the trophy, but I knew that that was probably the first time that I was forced to perform a certain way under this format, and I did it, and there’s nothing else I possibly could have done to change the outcome.
Denny Hamlin added.
The comments the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran shows how the emotional moment towards the end of the race has affected him and how this might influence his decisions regarding his racing future. It would be interesting to see if he will decide to follow Carl Edwards and retire after the championship disappointment.
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