Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was featured in an interview with NASCAR analyst Jeff Gluck on the post-championship celebration. In the course of the interplay, Hamlin opened up about his plans to return to the sequence subsequent yr after the Phoenix heartbreak.
Regardless of dominating the 319-lap race at Phoenix Raceway, the #11 Toyota Camry XSE driver misplaced his probability to safe his maiden Cup Sequence championship this season. Hamlin was the quickest driver on the grid and clinched the pole place and received stage two of the race. Nonetheless, this was not sufficient to safe his first-ever Cup Sequence championship title.
Denny Hamlin led probably the most laps (208) within the 319-lap race, however his final pit name modified the result of the race. The #11 Toyota driver opted for 4 tires whereas everybody else modified two. This choice price Hamlin a number of positions and gave Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson a lead over him. Finally, Larson crossed the end line forward of the JGR driver and clinched his second championship title.
Reflecting on the Phoenix heartbreak, the NASCAR veteran instructed the inventory automotive racing analyst that he wanted a while and acknowledged:
“I imply, I plan to. I’ve a contract to, however at this level, there’s simply completely no approach that I’d even — I do not even take into consideration race automobiles proper now. I am gonna want a while on this one.”
Denny Hamlin additional highlighted that the low season is a bit longer forward of the 2026 Cup Sequence season, and he’ll recover from the Phoenix heartbreak. The primary race of the following season, Cook dinner Out Conflict at Bowman Grey Stadium, is scheduled for Feburary 1, 2026.
“Not meant to be”: Denny Hamlin expressed his disappointment over the Phoenix race
NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin had a dominating season this yr however nonetheless fell in need of the championship title. Whereas Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson secured the 2025 title, crossing the end line forward of Hamlin on November 2, 2025, at Phoenix Raceway.
Later, the #11 Toyota Camry XSE driver expressed his disappointment, ending one other season with out the championship title. Following that, Hamlin instructed the press:
“Yeah, nothing I can do completely different. Ready pretty much as good as I may coming into the weekend. My workforce gave me a implausible automotive. Simply didn’t work out. I used to be simply praying for no warning. Had one there. What are you able to do? Simply not meant to be.”
Persevering with additional, Denny Hamlin additionally talked about his final pit name and defined:
“We took 4 tires. I believed that undoubtedly was the correct name. Simply so many automobiles took two there. Clearly put us again. Staff did a implausible job. They ready a championship automotive. Simply didn’t occur. I’ll attempt (to win a title once more). I bought a pair extra photographs at it,” he added.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver completed the 319-lap race in sixth place and misplaced his probability on the Cup Sequence championship title. Whereas the #5 Chevy Camaro ZL1 driver, Kyle Larson, was three spots forward of him in third place, he received the title.
Edited by Karan Yadav
