“I’m gonna need some time on this one.” These words by Denny Hamlin show the impact of the title loss on him. Hamlin had dominated the race, leading most laps. But as everyone in the garage saw his win coming closer, a late caution flipped everything, handing the title to rival Kyle Larson. The entire NASCAR fandom has felt Hamlin’s heartbreak since then. Amidst this, one of his post-race gestures earned him a lot of praise and admiration.

As Larson was celebrating his victory with his No. 5 team, Hamlin’s simple congratulatory message to him turned many heads. This was not a normal wish. It holds its own depth. Hamlin was still fresh off his own defeat, trying to fathom what had just happened to him, but still, within that grieving moment, he chose to congratulate his rival, who had stolen the trophy from him. Apart from other things, this gesture too became one of the reasons he’s suddenly gaining fans like never before.

“Just pay(ing) my respects,” Hamlin later shared about his congratulatory gesture for Larson. “I would hope that he would have done that for me. I think he would have. He’s been a great friend of mine.” Despite the sting of Larson‘s second title win without leading even a single lap, Hamlin stayed for a brief period of time at Larson’s celebration party.

This wasn’t just a professional courtesy; Hamlin chose to do that despite being in tears over his own loss. This showed Hamlin’s class and sportsmanship. Larson, who called the turnaround “unbelievable” post-race, felt the weight too.

“It feels awkward to celebrate,” Larson admitted in interviews. “I definitely have a lot of empathy for him… he has put in so much time and energy and has been so close to winning so many championships, and this is as close as he’s ever been. Sure he’s a competitor, but he is a friend.” Their bond, forged over years of competing against each other, made even Larson feel bad for celebrating his own victory.

Larson knows how much hard work Hamlin put in despite his age (Hamlin turns 45 this month) and his hardships. The mutual respect and empathy they feel for each other prove that rivalry doesn’t erase humanity. Fans and the garage saw a gem stepping up, earning nods for putting friendship over fresh defeat. This grace of Hamlin fueled the chatter that spread online quickly.

Fans show love to Hamlin’s gesture

One longtime critic flipped fast, posting, “I was a hater for years. Just can’t do it anymore, man. Denny is a fu–ing gem in this sport.” It rang true after Hamlin’s 2025 grind, where he bounced back from a Daytona 500 near-win wreck to six victories and showed grit beyond the track. This fan, echoing many, saw the congratulatory visit as the tip that broke through, turning skepticism into straight respect for a driver who’s chased the crown since his 2006 rookie days.

“Easy to handle victory; real test of a person is how they handle defeat… hard to not like Denny here – heck I think all the Champ 4 drivers handled this whole thing about as classy as they could have.” With Briscoe in his JGR debut, finishing 18th, and Byron apologizing for the chaos he sparked, the finale’s pressure tested everyone, but everyone handled that pressure like a pro. Hamlin’s quiet support for Larson amid his own numbness from the defeat proved the point.

Not everyone needed a full turnaround; some just let go. A simple line captured it: “Yeah, I can’t wrap my head around hating this guy any longer.” Apart from Hamlin’s racing, he’s facing many other struggles, including his father’s poor health. These things have humanized him more. Since the last few races, fans are seeing his emotional and human side more often than before.

Even the non-Hamlin fans can’t help but appreciate him. “You have gained my respect after this interview. I am a Kyle Larson fan but really felt bad for you. You dominated this race, but as true NASCAR fans know, one never knows until the checkered flag is thrown.” Larson may have snatched the title from him, but the talks have still just been about Hamlin.

Another one said a similar thing, “I’ve never had more respect for him than I do now. I was anti-Hamlin for a long time. But he’s won me over. I was rooting for him to win the Championship and even got emotional when he lost (despite my being a Larson fan). I was invested in seeing him through his journey.”

Hamlin’s journey was a long one. From the lawsuit stress to missing the Mexico City race for his son’s birth, he faced it all. Even as a Larson fan, tearing up at Hamlin’s loss showed how his off-track gestures, especially his recent handshake to Larson, turned haters into allies.