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Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, has expressed significant regret regarding the pivotal final restart at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, believing a different strategic choice could have altered the race’s outcome. In a candid assessment delivered on Monday’s episode of his "Actions Detrimental" podcast, Hamlin detailed his perspective on the events that transpired in the closing laps of the NASCAR Cup Series event, a race he felt was within his grasp.
Hamlin had masterfully retaken the lead from Tyler Reddick with just four laps remaining, positioning himself mere half-laps from securing a checkered flag. However, a caution flag waved when Cody Ware experienced a tire failure, setting the stage for a dramatic final restart. It was this restart, Hamlin contends, where a confluence of factors, both within and beyond his control, ultimately cost him a victory.
"In hindsight, I wish I would not have let Kyle Larson force me three-wide in the middle on the final restart," Hamlin stated on his podcast. "Of course, if I could do it all over again, I also would likely have restarted on the outside as well."
The driver elaborated on the sequence of events, emphasizing how the restart unfolded in a manner contrary to his expectations and strategic planning. He specifically highlighted an incident involving Reddick and Christopher Bell as a critical turning point. According to Hamlin, Reddick’s contact with Bell, which sent Bell spinning into Hamlin’s path, forced the No. 11 car down the track to the apron.
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"Like, if the Reddick contact with Bell doesn’t happen, and I don’t get driven all the way down to the apron… Kyle (Larson’s) car was so bad those last two laps," Hamlin explained. He attributed Larson’s performance in the final moments to tire strategy, noting the disparity between fresh right-side tires and older left-side tires, a condition he believes significantly hampered Larson’s car in the closing stages. "That’s what happens (extreme tight balance) when you put on (right sides) and have really old lefts. That’s why it looked like Tyler was superman."
Hamlin also recounted his anticipation of potentially running three-wide with Larson and Reddick entering Turn 3, a maneuver he believed was achievable due to the momentum he had generated on the top lane. "I thought I was going to be three-wide with (Larson and Reddick) entering turn three because of the run I got on the top," he said.
The decision to allow Larson to initiate a three-wide battle into Turn 1 is a point of contention for Hamlin, who now believes he should have defended his position more aggressively. He asserted that Larson, known for his tenacious racing style, would inevitably attempt to maximize his track position. "I know, because I’ve been there before, that (Larson) is not going to push," Hamlin remarked. "He’s going to try to get everything he can to go three-wide and I’ve just got to drive him down to the apron. ‘If you want to go three-wide, you have to go to the middle,’ and this is just a forewarning."
Hamlin issued a stern warning for future encounters, indicating a shift in his defensive strategy. "If this happens again, he’s going to have to go the middle. I will not let him. I will run to the apron or keep him on the apron next time. I will not get beat low at this racetrack again," he declared.
The strategic choice of restarting on the bottom lane, rather than the outside, is another element Hamlin has revisited. While statistical data often favors the bottom lane for restarts on mile-and-a-half tracks, this advantage typically relies on a strong push from behind. In this instance, Hamlin felt Larson’s intent was not to provide such support.
"Should have, I should have, as strong as I know my cars are on the top on mile-and-a-half tracks, I absolutely should have started at the top, no matter what," Hamlin admitted. "I could hold more throttle than everyone else."
When questioned about his deviation from this perceived superior strategy, Hamlin cited the prevailing data and perceived advantage of the bottom line. "The bottom is the preferred line," he stated. "The bottom wins by the numbers. The data says the bottom."
However, the reality of the final restart proved that historical data did not translate into a winning strategy under the specific race conditions. Hamlin lamented a perceived shift in driver mentality within the field, suggesting a decrease in cooperative pushing. "People are not content pushing anymore," he observed. "Everyone is just going to go for themselves. And that’s where you have to just throw the numbers out."
The disappointment for Hamlin is amplified by the context of his impending retirement from full-time competition at the conclusion of the 2025 season. This missed opportunity at Kansas marks the second significant victory that has eluded him in the current season, following a similar setback at Martinsville Speedway.
"I took this one a little tougher because I just want to capitalize," Hamlin said, his voice conveying a sense of urgency. "I’ve only got 60 races left and I just want to get these wins when I should be winning and it’s just not happening."
He drew a parallel to the Martinsville race, where a loose wheel in the closing laps contributed to his inability to secure a win. "It was the loose wheel at the end of Martinsville and a lot of stuff that’s not going great in the luck category or the creating your own luck category, which is what I chalk this up to," Hamlin concluded.
Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin’s team, has a storied history at Kansas Speedway. The organization has secured multiple victories at the 1.5-mile oval, with Hamlin himself having achieved success there in the past. However, recent performances have underscored the intense competition within the NASCAR Cup Series, where even a dominant car can be undone by circumstances beyond the driver’s immediate control.
The NASCAR Cup Series season continues with a slate of races that will test the resilience of drivers and teams as they vie for playoff contention. Hamlin’s reflections at Kansas serve as a stark reminder of the fine margins that often define success and the complex interplay of strategy, execution, and fortune in professional motorsports. The driver’s explicit intention to adjust his restart strategy moving forward suggests a proactive approach to mitigating future disappointments in his final season of full-time competition.
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