Denny Hamlin Insists Not Winning the Cup Title “Has No Bearing on His Ability”

The 2025 NASCAR Cup season finale at Phoenix witnessed one of the biggest heart breaks in the history of the sport, as veteran Denny Hamlin loss the championship Kyle Larson in overtime. A bad pit-stop strategy on the last restart cost him the win, as he had a dominant car till then, helping him to lead over 200 laps.

It marked the sixth time Denny Hamlin has lost the title after coming close in the finale. What makes 2025 more painful is the fact that he had more time than anyone to prepare, was in dominant form throughout the season and was the sentimental favorite among the fans. The veteran has kept his distance from the media since the championship banquet and now has finally shared his thoughts.

On an interview with Racing America, he shared his feelings about the loss and asserted that at least for a moment, just like his ex-teammate Carl Edwards did before 2016 heartbreak, he experienced what it is like to be a champion. Regardless, he knows a trophy isn’t going to define his legacy as with 60 career wins and dominant season this year, he proves he is one of the best ever.

To borrow from Carl Edwards, I mean, with five laps to go, I knew what it was like to be a champion. I did everything I was supposed to, and so, you know, 40 seconds or 50 seconds at the end deciding whether I win that championship or not has no bearing on my ability or what I’m capable of. I just don’t have the trophy sitting at home, but I know we were the best.

Denny Hamlin said via Racing America.

Further talking about the same topic earlier in the race, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran pointed out that everything went right for him till the race went into overtime. But he knows such loss in overtime, when someone is in the lead is part of the sport and he have to live with it.

Everything was right, but it didn’t work out in the end. It’s one of those things, sometimes you go into Overtime, but the score wasn’t even. You were up 30 to nothing, and you lose. And so, it’s just, I don’t know.

Denny Hamlin asserted.

Furthermore, he asserted that with him having multiple weeks to prepare, as he won the first race of the R-8 to secure the finale spot, made the loss more painful. He was more emotionally and physically invested in preparation that anyone else in the chase for the title.

It took so much out of me, it drained so much out of me, time-wise. And a lot of it, too, is because we had multiple weeks to prepare. If I had gotten in after Martinsville, I wouldn’t have had all that time to spend on Phoenix, but yeah, it was tiring and grueling, which is why I feel the way I feel today.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin is really proud of his crew chief Chris Gayle

In the same interview, the three times Daytona 500 champion shared his thoughts on crew chief Chris Gayle, who joined the No:11 team this season at the start of the season. He is proud of the comparatively young crew chief who finally proved what he is really capable of, after working for many years with just young drivers.

Yeah, I was really proud of Chris, and how he took it as well. It was noted that he had options, and obviously, his first option was to stay here at Joe Gibbs Racing and work with me. I think it was — we’re finally seeing what Chris Gayle is able to do as a crew chief.

Denny Hamlin said.

The comments from the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers seems rational and something that gives his fans hope going into the upcoming 2026 season. He will have everything at his disposal to prove his worth again next-season, when the No:11 team fields cars determined to get redemption.

Also Read: Jeff Gordon Promises to Give Alex Bowman Everything to “Strengthen the No:48 Team”

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