Bittersweet. That’s how Kyle Larson probably felt when the checkered flag was waved at Phoenix Raceway. On one hand, ‘Yung Money’ had won the championship in bizarre circumstances, his second Cup Series trophy of his career. But on the flip side, it came at the expense of Denny Hamlin, who utterly dominated the race, with many feeling he deserved his moment after decades of falling short. NASCAR has always been a sport defined by fine margins, and it all came down to race strategy, with the No. 5 Chevy restarting fifth.

Eventually, in the two-lap overtime shootout, the No. 5 car went on to take third place, the highest finisher among the Championship 4 contenders, and that’s what sealed Larson’s fate. But Denny Hamlin was left unfulfilling his father’s wish despite leading the most laps any driver could in a championship round. And now Kyle Larson cannot help but feel for the 44-year-old driver.

Kyle Larson believes that Denny Hamlin deserves a championship

Speaking to NASCAR journalists Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck, the 33-year-old said, “You know, it’s, yeah, I’ve thought about it a little bit. Like, I don’t even, I don’t know what to say, or I don’t, I don’t know if there’s anything you can say. I can’t imagine. And I don’t want to imagine or you’re the feeling that he must be having right now, you know? So really, I just want to give him a hug. Think that’s fair to do as a competitor and as a friend. So he deserves to be a champion. You know, I wish he can have the chance again to win a championship and get to feel what it feels like.”

Larson’s empathy comes from a place of deep respect for Hamlin, not only as a fierce rival but also as a friend. After 20 full-time seasons and five near misses in the modern playoff era, Hamlin was widely expected to end this championship drought, particularly after leading the race from pole. And the weekend meant much more as Hamlin confessed about his 75-year-old father before the race.

He announced, “I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment.” And that fueled Hamlin even more. But William Byron’s late-race flat tire suddenly changed everything.

Everything went right for Hamlin that night, but the gamble on the final restart derailed his day. Leading 208 laps out of 319 isn’t just record-breaking, but it’s also a testament to how determined and ready Denny Hamlin was to finally get his hands on the Bill Cup France that has long eluded him.  But the gamble of changing to 4 tires definitely didn’t pay off at the end. And the No. 11 crew chief, Chris Gayle, got a lot of flak for it from the fans.

Hamlin exited pit road in 10th and was not able to make enough ground to fight Larson for the championship. This was definitely heartbreaking, and even Larson admits that. The Hendrick Motorsports driver revealed that he was ready to congratulate the No. 11 driver before the late-race caution scrambled the running order.

In a post-race interview sitting next to the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, the newly crowned 2025 Cup Series champion said, “He’s a competitor, but he is a friend, and 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,’ and then the caution came out, and it all kind of—the script flipped right there.”

And now with Larson feeling confused emotions, the two-time Cup Series champion couldn’t help but be there for his friend.  But as for Hamlin, the emotions are low, and he uttered the words no one expected him to say.

Denny Hamlin vows to stay out of the car after heartbreaking title loss

Denny Hamlin came agonizingly close to securing his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series championship. With just three laps remaining at Phoenix Raceway, he held a commanding lead of over three seconds. But a late race twist turned everything upside down for the pole sitter. During the post-race press conference, Hamlin was asked about the race extending beyond the scheduled distance, and frustration was evident.

With a smile, he said, “Gosh, I don’t know,” Hamlin said. “Golly, in this moment I never want to race a car ever again (smiling). I mean, my fun meter is pegged.” It was a gut-wrenching loss, one that few drivers in the playoff era have endured, perhaps only rivaled by Carl Edwards’s heartbreak in 2016. Falling short of a cup title always stings, but losing it while being just three laps away will linger for a long time.

Still, Hamlin has built his career on resilience. With his Joe Gibbs Racing contract running through 2027, he will have two more chances to chase the one title that has eluded him, and few would doubt his ability to come back stronger.