Denny Hamlin was heading toward his first career championship. With just 4 laps to go at Phoenix Raceway, a caution sent the race into overtime.
Kyle Larson ended up finishing ahead of Hamlin after a two tire call. Larson claimed his second career championship.
After the race, Hamlin was dejected. He sat in his car on the pit lane, watching Larson celebrate on the frontstretch.
After climbing from the car, Hamlin’s comments made fans question if he would return in 2026.
Denny Hamlin: “In this moment, I never want to race a car again.”
“I would have begged Joe to let me quit had I won that race,” Denny Hamlin stated via his Actions Detrimental podcast.
“I would have. It would have just been the perfect way for me to go out. They’re not ready for that yet.”
“We set a date out now to at least come to when that is. We know what’s the lifeline left.”
“It doesn’t make me want to race right now in this moment, anymore. They could say 36 races, they’re not. Everyone just get over it. You’re going to get playoffs.”
“But, the off-season is still so fresh, I want nothing to do with racing. I gotta get some more time.”
“You don’t know what it’s like to dominate a season and then all the sudden, the format or whatever keeps resetting the score on you. Then, you end up losing in overtime.”
NASCAR comments on the upcoming playoff change
Phoenix Race Results: November 2, 2025 (NASCAR Championship)
Denny Hamlin | Phoenix Raceway | NASCAR
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