“Excruciating to Watch!” Dale Earnhardt Jr. Makes a Confession Over Kyle Larson Beating Denny Hamlin to Win 2025 Title
NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has shared his thoughts on his emotions seeing Denny Hamlin losing the 2025 championship.
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Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)
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Coming into the 2025 NASCAR Cup season finale, Joe Gibbs Racinh veteran Denny Hamlin was the favorite to win the title. He had a dominant day, leading over 200 laps and coming 40 seconds close to winning, before a caution send the race to overtime and gave Kyle Larson the opportunity to secure the Bill France Cup, the second of his career.
But for many in the racing community, including Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. it was an excruciating moment to witness. The emotional burden on Denny Hamlin on the race week made it special and watching all his dreams crumble, in the best shot the championship he ever had, within second was had for everyone involved.
That was excruciating to watch. Knowing that Denny was somewhat emotional on the front straightaway or around the car before the race…Denny doesn’t really show a ton of emotion, but you could tell he knew that he had a very f*cking good shot at this before he even got in his car.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.
Further talking about the point, he revealed how Joe Gibbs Racing gave a car capable of beating anyone at the venue on Sunday. The car and the driver fast enough to easily beat the most dominant force at the venue Team Penske, but it was the late caution that ruined everything for the 23XI Racing co-owner.
The race begins, and he drives this car for 90 percent of the race going. ‘There ain’t a car here as good as this one. I got this.’ Of course, he’s not assuming anything, but he’s sitting there going, ‘I’ve never had a better shot at winning a championship.’ He’s never had that car at Phoenix. That car would’ve beaten the f*cking Penske cars.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.
Even Kyle Larson knew Denny Hamlin was the emotional favorite at the final
Just like majority of the stock racing community, the champion Kyle Larson was sad for Denny Hamlin, who is close friend. He knew coming into the weekend, for the first time in his career, Hamlin had the support of the majority despite still being the most hated driver of the sport owing to the villain character he has embraced.
Well, I feel like he has up until the last few weeks. I think people and trust me, he still got lots of boos coming out for driver introductions and stuff, so he’s still got the black hat, and he wears it really well.
Kyle Larson said on Rubbin is Racing.
We were lucky enough to have 2time Cup Champ Kyle Larson in NYC HQ yesterday to talk about Denny, playoff structure, the trophy that still elludes him the most (and it ain’t Daytona), and a shitload of other stuff on @rubbinisracing
— Large (@LargeBarstool) November 6, 2025
Drops in AM. pic.twitter.com/wTBze2tTgX
The shift on fans feelings about the veteran happened after he made history by winning his 60th career race in the R-8 event at Las Vegas. His emotional response afterwards and dedicating it to his ill father resonated with many. Him nearing the end of his racing career also made fans realize it will take many years for them to see such a unique racer ever again.
But I do think you kind of saw a shift after he won his 60th race, and he showed his emotion. I think with the timeline or the runway being short the rest of his potential racing career, that yeah, I would say he was like the sentimental favorite going into this weekend.
Kyle Larson added.
The comments from Kyle Larson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. shows how special it would have been if the JGR veteran won the 2025 Cup championship. But there is still time for the No:11 TRD racer to give his fans what they want, as he is still more than capable of performing on a higher level.
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