Denny Hamlin's Championship Pursuit: A Chronicle of Near Misses in the NASCAR Cup Series

Denny Hamlin, a veteran of 20 NASCAR Cup Series seasons, has consistently been a championship contender, achieving ten top-five finishes in the final standings. His illustrious career boasts 60 victories, placing him in a tie for tenth on the all-time wins list, alongside prestigious triumphs such as three Daytona 500s, three Southern 500s, and a Coca-Cola 600. He has also conquered the All-Star Race. Despite this remarkable record, the ultimate prize—a NASCAR Cup Series championship—has eluded him. This narrative has been punctuated by several agonizingly close calls, with the most recent, a dominant performance in the 2025 season finale, leaving him once again without the coveted Bill France Cup. Hamlin’s championship record now stands at zero wins in 20 attempts at the highest level of stock car racing. This report revisits the key moments where the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota came agonizingly close to championship glory.

2006: A Rookie’s Promising Debut

While not a definitive championship near-miss by today’s standards, Hamlin’s 2006 rookie season warrants mention. Under the previous ten-race postseason format, and during Jimmie Johnson’s historic five-year championship reign, Hamlin concluded the season 68 points behind Johnson. He was also a mere 12 points adrift of Matt Kenseth for the runner-up position. In the context of the 2006 points system, this deficit was equivalent to the points gap between first and fifteenth place in a single race, underscoring Hamlin’s immediate impact as a rookie.

2010: The Finale Slip

Related News :

Arguably Hamlin’s most painful championship setback occurred in 2010. Entering the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 15-point lead over Jimmie Johnson, Hamlin appeared poised to secure his first title. However, an early-race incident proved to be his undoing. A mere 25 laps into the race, Hamlin made contact with Greg Biffle while attempting to navigate through the field. The resulting spin and subsequent splitter damage hampered his car’s performance for the remainder of the race. He finished 14th, while Johnson secured a second-place finish, ultimately clinching the championship by 39 points. This marked Hamlin’s first and, until recently, only instance of finishing as the championship runner-up.

2014: Inaugural Championship 4 Member

The introduction of the elimination-style playoff format in 2014 saw Hamlin become one of the first drivers to reach the Championship 4. Alongside Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, and Joey Logano, Hamlin battled for the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Despite leading 50 laps, Hamlin found himself outpaced by Harvick. During a crucial late-race caution, Hamlin’s team opted to stay out on older tires, while his rivals pitted. He maintained the lead for several laps, but Harvick eventually reeled him in and took the lead with just seven laps remaining. Newman also passed Hamlin, relegating him to a third-place finish in the championship standings.

2019: Overheating Woes

Hamlin’s 2019 Championship 4 appearance placed him alongside teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Harvick. The intensity of the championship battle led to an aggressive strategy by Hamlin’s team, which involved applying excessive grill tape in an attempt to gain an aerodynamic advantage. With 50 laps remaining, the engine’s water temperature spiked, leading to a critical overheating issue and the expulsion of coolant. Faced with the potential for catastrophic engine failure, Hamlin was forced to pit. Upon entering his pit stall, his No. 11 Toyota erupted with a geyser of water, effectively ending his championship hopes. He finished the race in tenth place, fourth in the final championship standings.

2020: Outmatched at Phoenix

The 2020 season marked the first time the NASCAR Cup Series Championship finale was held at Phoenix Raceway. Hamlin, making his third consecutive Championship 4 appearance, found himself outmatched on this occasion. He failed to lead any laps and finished fourth among the title contenders. Despite running within the top five for much of the race, Hamlin lacked the outright speed to challenge the Penske and Hendrick Motorsports entries.

2021: Late Restart Gamble

Continuing his streak of Championship 4 appearances, Hamlin entered the 2021 finale at Phoenix Raceway with the same objective: to contend for the championship. However, similar to the previous year, he lacked the necessary speed to secure an outright victory. He finished third in the race and the championship standings, failing to lead a single lap. On the final restart, Hamlin was positioned on the front row alongside eventual champion Kyle Larson. Larson quickly established a commanding lead before Turn 1, and with the importance of clean air in the 550-horsepower package, Hamlin’s chances evaporated.

2022: The Unthinkable Elimination

Although Hamlin did not reach the Championship 4 in 2022, his elimination from contention was so dramatic and unexpected that it merits inclusion. Entering the Round of 8 cutoff race at Martinsville Speedway, Hamlin was trailing Ross Chastain in the standings but managed to overcome the deficit through stage points and a strong race performance. On the final lap, Hamlin held a comfortable points advantage over Chastain, appearing to secure his spot in the Championship 4. However, as they exited Turn 4, Chastain, executing a daring move by riding the outside wall at high speed, overtook Hamlin at the finish line. The move, considered improbable by many, left Hamlin in a state of shock. While it is speculated that Hamlin may have struggled against Joey Logano at Phoenix regardless, this elimination stands as one of his most improbable near-misses.

2025: Forty Seconds from Glory

The 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway presented Hamlin with what he described as his closest opportunity to securing the championship. He was leading the race and on the verge of taking the white flag, which would have prevented an overtime finish. However, a caution flag for William Byron, who suffered a tire failure and hit the wall, changed the complexion of the race. Hamlin’s team faced a strategic dilemma: stay out, take two tires, or take four. They opted for four fresh tires, a decision that dropped Hamlin from first to tenth on the track. The strategy proved to be an underestimation of the competition, particularly Kyle Larson, who again took only two tires. Despite his efforts to regain positions, Hamlin could only reach sixth place as Larson secured the championship without leading a lap. Hamlin, who had led over 200 laps that day, was left devastated by the outcome, a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in championship racing.

With 20 full-time seasons and 60 wins, Denny Hamlin’s quest for a NASCAR Cup Series championship remains unfulfilled. With two years remaining on his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, the 44-year-old driver still has opportunities to achieve his ultimate goal. However, the sting of recent defeats, particularly the 2025 finale, has undoubtedly left a profound impact. Hamlin recently expressed his emotional state, stating, "I plan to (race next year). I have a contract to, 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 road to a championship has been fraught with near misses for Hamlin, and the racing world awaits to see if he can finally break through.