NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin. Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

'Super disappointing': Denny Hamlin comes up shy of huge NASCAR playoff win at Kansas

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 7:31 PM ET

Less than seven one-hundredths of a second separated Denny Hamlin from victory at Kansas Speedway on Sunday.

The future NASCAR Hall of Famer led the most laps (159) of any driver on Sunday and swept the two stages, earning a bucketload of crucial points.

However, power-steering issues in the closing laps threatened Hamlin's dominant day. Still, the veteran driver pressed on, and on the final lap, he had a chance to pass Bubba Wallace and score his sixth win of the season.

Unfortunately for Hamlin, it just wasn't meant to be.

A FINISH YOU'VE GOT TO SEE TO BELIEVE!!! @chaseelliott wins a #NASCARPlayoffs classic!!! pic.twitter.com/A6WQS3akYj
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025

Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota got tight in the final corner, which led to Hamlin making contact with Wallace and allowing Chase Elliott to pass both drivers and score the victory.

Denny Hamlin sounds off about his finish at Kansas

Hamlin had to settle for second on a day when he could've scored a historic 60th career win.

"Just super disappointing," Hamlin told USA Network. "It would've been 60 for me. Team did an amazing job with the car, gave me everything I needed. Got the restart I needed, just couldn't finish it there in the last corner."

While the loss is obviously frustrating for Hamlin, it's not all doom and gloom in the No. 11 camp. Hamlin is 48 points above the playoff cut line going into the Charlotte Roval, and barring a disastrous day next weekend, he'll advance to the Round of 8 with little issue.

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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