rifan muazinPhoenix, AZ – The sting of a near-certain championship victory slipping through his grasp has left Denny Hamlin in a state of profound reflection, making it difficult for the seasoned Joe Gibbs Racing driver to even contemplate his future in NASCAR, despite a contract extension with his team through the 2026 season. The profound disappointment of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series finale, where he led with mere laps remaining before a late caution and subsequent strategic decisions altered the race’s outcome, has cast a long shadow over his immediate outlook.
Hamlin, 44, articulated his emotional state following the championship race, stating, "Right now, I don’t want to race a car again; my fun meter is pegged." This sentiment, expressed in the immediate aftermath of the race, was further elaborated upon during a media availability on Tuesday morning in advance of the NASCAR Awards ceremony. "I have a contract to," Hamlin confirmed when pressed about his future, "but there’s, at this point, there’s just absolutely no way that I would even… I don’t even think about the race car right now. Just yeah, I’m gonna need some time on this one."
The nature of the defeat has amplified the emotional toll. Hamlin had meticulously prepared for this moment, leading a significant portion of the championship race and appearing poised to finally secure the elusive Cup Series title. The pivotal moment came when fellow championship contender William Byron suffered a tire failure while running second, prompting a caution flag. In the ensuing pit stop strategy, Hamlin and his crew chief, Chris Gayle, opted for a fresh set of tires, a decision that ultimately placed them 10th on the restart. This was in contrast to some competitors who took older tires or elected to stay out, gaining track position. Ultimately, Hamlin was unable to overcome the deficit, finishing behind his friend and eventual champion, Kyle Larson.
The debrief with his crew chief, Gayle, on the critical pit road decisions remains a delicate subject. "The takeaways from JGR need to be that they did a really good job preparing me a really fast car, and gave me all the tools I needed to succeed," Hamlin stated, acknowledging the team’s efforts. "So you know, I’ve been there in other years past where (I’ve) just not been fast enough or good enough, and this is just a little different." This implies a departure from previous championship bids where speed or execution was the primary concern, suggesting the current defeat stems from a confluence of external factors and strategic gambles.
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Hamlin’s championship pursuits have been marked by a series of heart-wrenching near-misses and unfortunate circumstances throughout his career. The years 2010, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022, and now 2025 represent a grim ledger of seasons where he either narrowly missed reaching the championship finale or saw victory snatched away in dramatic fashion. This latest chapter adds another layer of complexity to his championship narrative.
"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," Hamlin reflected. "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. 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." His assertion of having "felt it" in those closing laps suggests a deep conviction that he had achieved the performance level required, only to be thwarted by unforeseen circumstances.
The outpouring of support from the NASCAR fanbase has not gone unnoticed by Hamlin. He acknowledged perusing social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and recognizing the widespread sympathy. "I mean, I’ve looked at it, and obviously it’s more pain," Hamlin admitted. "I try to look at it for a little bit and then I just stop, because it just, it does get into my feelings a little bit. But I love our fan base. I mean, I think that they certainly have been very, very supportive of me over the last really few weeks, and my fans for quite some time."
However, this support is intertwined with a complex emotional landscape, particularly concerning the victory of his friend, Kyle Larson. "But yeah, I’m a bit torn as well because also my friend won the championship, and it’s not being talked about that much. But I think that sometimes people have a tipping point, right?" This sentiment highlights the dichotomy of celebrating a friend’s success while grappling with his own profound disappointment.
In a display of sportsmanship and friendship, Hamlin made an appearance at Larson’s victory celebration. "Just to pay my respects," Hamlin explained. "I would hope that he would have done that for me. I think he would’ve. He’s been a great friend of mine. I hate for him that kind of the attention is shifted a little bit away from him and his championship, because he’s definitely … there’s a difference in deserving and should have been, right? I think that there’s not one person that should ever question his deservingness of being a champion. That’s what I don’t like to see. But I mean, he’s a great friend of mine, and if it wasn’t me, I was definitely happy for him. I was just trying to do the right thing as a friend, and regardless of my feelings and emotions that evening, it was important for me to go show him support."
Larson himself acknowledged the significance of Hamlin’s gesture, stating, "It truly meant a lot. It really did. I remember the last time I won a championship, you know, he didn’t come out, but he sent me a really nice video message, and it meant a lot to me, and I understood how tough and challenging even that moment probably was for him. So, you know, fast forward to this weekend, a much tougher defeat, and I didn’t expect him to go out. He didn’t need to, but I’m glad he showed up. I think it showed how big of a person he is, and how strong of a person he is to come out, suck it up and be out there." Larson also described the encounter as "awkward," admitting, "I was just speechless. I didn’t know what to say. I don’t think there was anything I could say to try to make him feel any better, and I could see the pain — all that. But it definitely meant a lot, and I think it meant a lot to everybody in there."
Hamlin typically experiences a renewed eagerness to compete around the holiday season. However, this winter will undoubtedly be different. "I would think this would probably be the same," he said, referring to his usual off-season anticipation. "When I need to go do something, I will." The proximity of the NASCAR Awards ceremony, held just two days after Championship Weekend, may offer a slight silver lining, allowing for a quicker transition, but the immediate future, particularly Tuesday night’s gala, is expected to be emotionally challenging.
"This is the only sport that makes the losers celebrate the winner," Hamlin remarked, underscoring the unique pressure of such events. "This will hurt." The profound disappointment and the lingering "deep cut" of Sunday’s outcome have undeniably impacted Hamlin’s perspective, casting a pall over his immediate thoughts of racing and leaving his long-term commitment to the sport in a state of thoughtful uncertainty, despite his existing contractual obligations.
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