Denny Hamlin experiences another heartbreaking title loss

NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

'Not meant to be': Denny Hamlin experiences another heartbreaking championship loss

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Nov 2, 2025 7:35 PM ET

Denny Hamlin had the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship won.

With three laps to go in Sunday's season finale at Phoenix Raceway, Hamlin held a solid lead over William Byron and was set to coast to his 61st career win and his first title.

All of the heartbreak and anguish from years past was going to be worth it.

But again, for the 20th time, it wasn't meant to be.

THE TIRE STRATEGY PAYS OFF!

KYLE LARSON IS THE 2025 NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPION! pic.twitter.com/O3eNtB7IrL
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 3, 2025

What happened to Denny Hamlin in NASCAR championship race?

Byron blew a tire with three circuits remaining in the season, which led to the field coming down pit road and Hamlin taking four tires.

The problem? One of his championship competitors in Kyle Larson, took two and was going to restart five positions ahead of him in NASCAR overtime.

Hamlin needed the restart of a lifetime to win the title. Instead, it was Larson who got the legendary restart, driving up to third and winning his second Cup Series title while Ryan Blaney won the race.

"Nothing I could do different," Hamlin told NBC Sports. "Prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend, my team gave me a fantastic car. Just didn't work out. What can you do? It's just not meant to be."

Hamlin won Stage 2 of Sunday's race and led 208 of 319 laps.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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