Larson Offers Sympathy to Hamlin After Devastating Championship Loss at Phoenix

The air at Phoenix Raceway was thick with a potent mix of elation and despair following the dramatic conclusion of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race. Kyle Larson secured his second Cup Series title in five years, a triumphant moment that was shadowed by the profound heartbreak of Denny Hamlin, who saw his best chance at an elusive championship slip through his fingers in the dying laps.

The championship showdown was a rollercoaster of emotions for the four contenders and their legions of fans. Throughout the grueling 312-lap event, momentum swung wildly, with each driver experiencing moments where their championship aspirations seemed to be irrevocably dashed. Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin all encountered the demoralizing setback of a flat tire, forcing them to battle back through the field.

However, it was Hamlin who demonstrated remarkable resilience, consistently driving his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota back into the top 10, even overtaking William Byron in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at various points. Hamlin’s ability to rebound repeatedly underscored his car’s superior pace and his own execution under pressure, signaling he was the dominant force when the stakes were highest.

The pivotal moment of the race, and indeed the championship, arrived with just three laps remaining in regulation. Hamlin, who had built a commanding lead over Byron, experienced the ultimate gut-punch when the right rear tire on Byron’s car failed, sending him spinning into the wall. This incident triggered an overtime caution, setting the stage for a frantic green-white-checkered finish.

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It was in this chaotic overtime period that a strategic gamble by Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 team, led by crew chief Chris Gayle, ultimately played a crucial role. With limited tire options remaining, Gayle faced a critical decision: take four fresh tires or opt for just two. Larson and his crew chief, Cliff Daniels, had opted for a scuff set on the right side of their No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Gayle, relying on data and a conviction that the extra grip from four tires would be advantageous, chose to put all four on Hamlin’s car, starting him from 10th on the restart.

Daniels later credited his engineering team for their input, stating, "I give a lot of credit to those guys because they pushed me in that moment to see what you’re asking of that’s almost the call that we have to make to get ourselves up front and to give ourselves a shot." He explained that once the final caution flew, signaling an overtime restart, the decision became clearer. "Once we got the final caution, we knew it was going to be a green-white-checkered, that decision almost made itself because Kyle in our code words had already called it out to me, that told me he was already going to have confidence and belief if we did it, he felt he had enough under him to go make it happen."

The strategy mirrored a similar scenario in the Truck Series race earlier in the weekend, where Corey Heim’s gamble with tires didn’t yield the desired outcome. This time, however, the gap Hamlin needed to maintain his lead failed to materialize. Hamlin found himself boxed in, his car’s aerodynamics compromised, while Larson, on his fresher right-side tires, found a clear lane on the outside. Larson capitalized on the opportunity, driving away to secure his second championship in five years.

On pit road, the stark contrast in emotions was palpable. Hamlin, visibly devastated, was embraced by his wife Jordan Fish and their children. Tears flowed freely among the Joe Gibbs Racing contingent, with many officials and family members expressing their profound disappointment. Across the aisle, the Hendrick Motorsports crew celebrated with unbridled joy, a stark juxtaposition to the somber mood on the other side of the wall.

Gayle, reflecting on the critical tire decision, admitted the difficulty of the situation. "For a second I could think, ‘oh, well if I took two tires,’ I don’t know if that would have worked," he said. "The 5 was doing it, this was their only shot. Really, it was going to dictate on just how many other cars stayed and fit in between you. I think four tires was the right call, it just didn’t get clear on the bottom, and I thought for a split second we were. The 5 got the outside and we were just boxed in with chaos."

Hamlin, rendered almost speechless by the outcome, described his state as "numb" and "in shock." Having competed in the Cup Series since 2006 and amassed 60 victories, the four-time Daytona 500 winner has endured numerous close calls in his pursuit of a championship. "Well, I mean, we were 40 seconds from a championship," Hamlin stated, his voice heavy with emotion. "I don’t know. It’s just unfortunate. The only difference before is the cautions came maybe a little sooner than that. I don’t know. Gosh, you work so hard. This sport can drive you absolutely crazy ’cause sometimes speed, talent, all that stuff, just does not matter."

The unpredictable nature of the championship format, which heavily favors success in the final race rather than season-long performance, was once again highlighted. Hamlin’s sentiment reflects a desire for a system that might better reward consistent performance throughout the entire season.

Larson, while celebrating his victory, acknowledged the immense talent and effort displayed by Hamlin. "I definitely have a lot of empathy for him," Larson said. "I said it I think in the interview I did on the stage. It’s great to celebrate and all that, but it does feel a little awkward because he has put so much time and energy, has been so close to winning so many championships. This is as close as he’s ever been." He added, "Sure he’s a competitor, but he is a friend. I was going to be happy for him to win. That’s kind of what I was thinking about. Like, man, I can’t wait to go tell him, ‘Good job.’ Then the caution came out and the script flipped right there."

Larson’s empathetic words suggest a shared understanding of the brutal realities of championship racing, where even the most dominant performance can be undone by a single, unforeseen circumstance. He believes that even Hamlin’s staunchest critics would have to acknowledge the heart-wrenching nature of this particular defeat. "Sure I’m happy but there’s definitely a piece of me that is sad for him, as well," Larson admitted. "I’m sure all of us in here, even the Denny haters, I’m sure there’s a spot where they’re sad, too. That’s competition. That’s the format. It’s just weird, you know? But yeah, I still hope someday he can get to feel what it’s like."

Hamlin, with two years remaining on his current contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, expressed a profound sense of disillusionment with the sport in the immediate aftermath. "Golly, in this moment I never want to race a car ever again," he said, reflecting the deep emotional toll of such a loss. "I mean, my fun meter is pegged." The NASCAR landscape will undoubtedly shift heading into the next season, with the championship format under review, potentially aiming to better integrate season-long achievements into the ultimate determination of the champion.