Denny Hamlin 'In Shock' After Elusive Cup Title Slips Via Fingertips

[ad_1] AVONDALE, Ariz. — Denny Hamlin didn’t present a lot emotion as he talked about how one other title slipped away.

The way in which he misplaced the 2025 title resulted in additional shock and disbelief relatively than unhappiness. And that’s saying one thing, contemplating he had seemingly misplaced championships in each method attainable.

"I actually do not have a lot for emotion proper now," Hamlin mentioned. "I’m simply numb about it as a result of I am simply in shock. That is about it."

However by dropping a cushty lead with lower than three laps remaining when the warning got here out for a William Byron flat tire and ensuing crash Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, Hamlin appeared in disbelief.

Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish embrace on the grid after the NASCAR Cup Sequence Championship at Phoenix Raceway.

Sure, he had a shot after the warning got here out.

However he took 4 tires on the pit cease and got here to the restart in tenth, 5 spots behind one of many different championship finalists, Kyle Larson.

Larson completed second and Hamlin positioned sixth. However for Hamlin, something that wasn’t the very best among the many 4 finalists resulted in bitter disappointment. The 44-year-old Hamlin stays probably the most completed driver with 60 Cup wins who has by no means gained a Cup title.

Even the winner could not completely have fun like he had dominated the race.

"When you do not win the race, you do not lead a lap, you win the championship, you steal it from a man who has tried for thus lengthy and had it in his fingertips. It is a actually bizarre feeling," Larson mentioned after profitable his second Cup title.

For the fifth time in his profession, Hamlin got here up quick within the championship race the place the motive force who finishes greatest among the many 4 championship-eligible finalists wins the title.

"We're 40 seconds from a championship," Hamlin mentioned. "It is simply unlucky. The one distinction earlier than is the cautions got here perhaps just a little earlier than that.

"Gosh, you're employed so onerous. This sport can drive you completely loopy as a result of generally pace, expertise, all that stuff, simply doesn't matter."

Denny Hamlin's pit stops at Phoenix may find yourself being a storyline of the day.

His father, Dennis, was not in attendance, and Hamlin knew that Sunday was most probably the final likelihood for his dad to see him win.

"Did the very best I may," Hamlin mentioned. "The whole lot I actually ready for occurred in the present day. I felt like we responded. ... I did rather well on restarts. We hadn't been good on restarts for the majority of the 12 months.

"The workforce introduced an awesome championship automotive. I felt like I drove it excellent up till two laps to go. That is the half that stinks."

Hamlin appeared emotional throughout a pre-race interview, however he mentioned he felt composed through the race. He managed a lot of the race, aside from a time when he had a flat tire underneath warning and the following prolonged pit cease dropped him to eleventh.

Regardless of main 208 of the general 319 laps, Hamlin was unable to rally within the extra time with the 4 recent tires. He got here up quick behind his good pal Larson, who was ready to make use of the momentum of the surface lane to stay a number of spots forward of Hamlin. Hamlin, as a substitute, dove to the within on the restart however could not get away from a number of vehicles.

"Kyle Larson has the trophy, however we dominated," Hamlin mentioned. "We did our job. We did the very best we may.

"They are a championship workforce and a championship driver. They'll win a hell of much more than simply these two. When everybody needed to deliver their greatest, I feel it was evident who was the very best in the present day."

Larson would agree with that and as a superb pal of Hamlin’s, is aware of how a lot it stings.

"There's undoubtedly a bit of me that's unhappy for him," Larson mentioned. "I am positive all of us in right here, even the Denny haters, I am positive there is a spot the place they're unhappy, too.

"That is competitors. That is the format. It is simply bizarre, you realize? However yeah, I nonetheless hope sometime he can get to really feel what it is like."

Hamlin wasn’t the one one in shock.

It was disappointment for Denny at Phoenix after lacking out on one other NASCAR title.

His workforce proprietor, Joe Gibbs, was at the same loss for phrases. All of Hamlin’s Cup victories have come for Gibbs, and Hamlin has challenged for Cup titles since as early as 2010.

"It’s actually tough," Gibbs mentioned. "It’s a heartbreak for everyone right here. I don’t assume there’s a lot else to say. I feel we did [our best]. A number of the issues you'll be able to’t management."

Crew chief Chris Gayle wouldn’t second-guess the choice to take 4 tires.

"For a second I may assume, ‘Oh, effectively, if I took two tires,’" Gayle mentioned. "I do not know if that may have labored. [Larson] was doing as this was their solely shot, and it actually was going to dictate on simply what number of different vehicles stayed and who match between you.

"4 tires was the fitting name. It simply did not get clear on the underside. And I believed for a break up second we have been, then [Larson] received the surface run, after which it is simply boxed in with chaos."

Hamlin didn’t really feel he may have accomplished rather more than attempt to make the run on the within. However that didn’t pan out.

"Nothing I can do totally different," Hamlin mentioned. "Ready pretty much as good as I may coming into the weekend. My workforce gave me a incredible automotive. It simply did not work out. I used to be simply praying that no warning. Had one there.

"What are you able to do? Simply not meant to be."

After the race, Hamlin needed to console his bawling daughters, making an attempt to inform them that generally issues don’t go your method.

"A type of life classes years down the street," Hamlin mentioned.

Hamlin, who has raced full-time in Cup since 2006, has two years left of full-time racing as he signed a contract extension for 2 extra seasons.

"I've received a pair extra pictures at it," Hamlin mentioned. "Man, if you cannot win that one, I do not know which one you'll be able to win."

Hamlin will likely be keen to attend till the shock wears off.

"On this second, I by no means need to race a automotive ever once more," Hamlin mentioned. "My enjoyable meter is pegged."

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.