Denny Hamlin Insists “There Is No Asterisk” Behind Kyle Larson’s 2025 Championship Triumph

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin experienced a major heartbreak in the 2025 season finale as he lost the title to rival/friend Kyle Larson. The Hendrick Motorsports driver won despite having an inferior car, as well as inferior day, by taking advantage of the overtime pit strategy mistake from the Chevy driver.

The underwhelming performance from the No:5 team just before the overtime restart made some in the community to call Kyle Larson an underserving champion. JGR veteran Denny Hamlin isn’t taking the disrespect towards the HMS racer and in the latest episode of his podcast, he declared that he has tone of respect for the racer and the veteran is the deserving champion.

If I were a race fan only, I certainly admire his ability behind the wheel to do special things. If I didn’t win, wish it was a Toyota, wish Chase [Briscoe] got it, but Larson is someone I’m very close with off the track and have a ton of respect for. I wanna make sure that 5 team and Larson — there is no asterisk behind this one.

Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental.

They had to fight extra had to win the championship, as they had to fight back from behind in the finale. He took advantage of the rest in overtime, playing by the same rules as everyone else. The critics also needs to understand the fact that Lardon ended the season as the points leader with three wins, 15 top-5 finishes, 22 top-10 finishes, 1,106 laps led, and a 13.2 average finishing position.

They played the game, they had to fight back, went a lap down at one point, got the lucky dog. We love resetting the score and unfortunately, I was one of the ones that got hurt by the reset.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin has more respect for Carl Edwards after the loss

In the same podcast, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin shared his thoughts on Carl Edwads and how the experience of his ex-teammate has helped him to get over the disappointment. He also admitted that he now personally understands the racing legend more than ever, considering the fact that while they were teammate their relationship was just that of colleagues.

I certainly got more of a personal understanding and certainly admiration for Carl Edwards here lately…Just over the last year, certainly when he went away from the sport, at that time, I didn’t know, I was teammates with him, but I didn’t know a whole lot about Carl. You know, we didn’t have a ton of conversations.

Denny Hamlin said.

He has also found a newfound respect for the racer, who fought hard to get in the peak of the sport and retired when he realized he got better things to do in his life. Hamlin pointed out that for many years Jimmie Johnson was the driver he always looked up to and now he sees Edwards in close proximity.  

‘Who do you admire or who do you look up to on and off the racetrack? Another driver.’ And for the longest time, my answer was Jimmie Johnson, and it’s still there. He’s still the guy as far as my respect level for what he did on the racetrack and who he is off the racetrack. But like Carl Edwards is shooting up that list hard.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comments from the three times Daytona 500 winners shows the level of respect he has for the legend. This also shows how Hamlin taking inspiration from the likes od Edwards and mark Martin, the driver that experienced similar heartbreaks as him, to make a strong comeback.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Brands Mark Martin As “One of the Ten Best Racers Ever” in NASCAR history

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