Kyle Larson Declares Denny Hamlin Winning 2025 Cup Championship “Not Going to Kill Him”

For the first time in his NASCAR career, Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin’s is going into the season finale with a significant group of fans cheering for him to win the championship. Hendrick Motorsports veteran Kyle Larson is one of them. Usually, majority of the stock car racing fans wants to see the veteran loosing, but this year it’s different owing to many seasons.

The Toyota veteran has so far had a dominant season, that saw him winning six races and securing 60^th win his career in R-12. Though he continued to showcase his smug attitude, some of his passionate haters seems to be cheering for him as they realize there is two or maximum three more years left for Denny Hamlin as a Cup drive in NASCAR.

On his media session at Phoenix, ahead of the finale, Kyle Larson was asked about the growing support the 23XI Racing co-owner is getting. The veteran Chevy driver isn’t surprised about fans supporting a racer who is nearing the last years of his accomplished racing career, as they have done to many legends in the past.

No, I mean, honestly, I’m not surprised, I guess. I think because everybody likes a story like that where somebody nearing the end of their career, all that. It’s great. I mean, I can see why people would cheer for him.

Kyle Larson told Bob Pockrass.

Though he is cheering for Hamlin, Kyle Larson is ready to make it easy for the No:11 team. He is coming into the weekend determined to win his second title and declared that he won’t be hurt if he loses the title to the JGR racer, compared to Chase Briscoe or William Byron. But there is one condition, the TRD driver shouldn’t use him up during races, as he has done many times in the past.

I’m a competitor. I obviously want to win. But it would be really cool to see somebody who has put in so much time to this sport and been so close so many times. 60 wins. I agree. I’m going to want to kick his ass tomorrow, but it’s not going to kill me if he wins, unless he runs me in the fence again.

Kyle Larson added.

Denny Hamlin is going into the season finale with an advantage

The start of the finale has been impressive for Hamlin, who is set to start the race on Sunday at P1 after securing the pole. He was the fastest Cup driver in Saturday ahead of Larson who finished P2 in the session and Byron, who was P3.

We’re obviously going to be in a great starting spot there but then obviously we’ve got to make sure we’re doing all the right things the entire day and largely that’s going to rest on my shoulders. And I’m going to do the best that I can.

Denny Hamlin said.

He sees this as a major advantage for him in the final, as he will get the opportunity set the pace from lap one and control the whole race, alongside having the bets pit-stall. But it doesn’t guarantee results as in the Next-Gen era, a car that qualify outside the top 20 can win races.

Certainly, it’s always an advantage to qualify on the pole, there’s never a disadvantage to starting first and having the number one pit stall. So, I don’t know if it directly correlates, but it’s always an advantage.

Denny Hamlin added.

The No:11 JGR team has come to the weekend with a strong car and it will be up to the veteran driver to execute perfectly to win the championship. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to payout for the star driver on Sunday.

Also Read: Kyle Larson Recalls Painful 2023 Championship Loss to Ryan Blaney

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