"An interaction I'll never forget": Kyle Larson reveals seeing 'pain' in Denny Hamlin's face at post-championship party

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson recently appeared in an interview at a post-championship party with NASCAR and SiriusXM. During the interaction, Larson recalled his interaction with Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin after the race was over.

The #5 Chevy Camaro ZL1 and the #11 Toyota Camry XSE drivers both qualified for the Championship 4 race this season. In a late-race restart, the JGR driver's decision to opt for four tires resulted in the HMS driver taking the lead from Hamlin. Previously, the duo also had a run-in with each other during the 2021 season, and Larson clinched the title that year, too.

Reflecting on the same, during the interview, Kyle Larson pointed out that Denny Hamlin reached out to him and congratulated him on his win. Furthermore, Larson noted that he believed Hamlin might reconsider after what happened this season. However, the #11 XSE driver reached out, and Larson praised him for his efforts.

The #5 Chevy Camaro ZL1 claimed it was "tough" and explained [01:38]:

"So we got to talk for a minute. Yeah, it was tough stuff. You could see the disappointment and pain in his face. Yeah, just, you know, probably a moment that I won’t an interaction I’ll never forget. You know, I still feel, I think we all do, feel bad for how it went down. But yeah, that’s why it’s been kind of awkward. Like, I’m super happy, but then there’s also part of this, like I’m equally as bummed for him and everybody else too."

During the closing laps of the 2025 Cup Series Championship 4 race, Denny Hamlin went for four tires while everyone opted for two, resulting in Larson taking the lead. Following that, the HMS ace clinched his second title, finishing third, while Hamlin crossed the finish line in P6.

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"Kyle and I were completely locked into": Kyle Larson's crew chief revealed the reason for missing the media day at Phoenix

Ahead of the Championship 4 race, the Cup Series driver Kyle Larson's crew chief missed the press conference. Following that, Cliff Daniels apologized for skipping the media day and revealed the reason for his absence from the event.

The #5 Chevy Camaro ZL1 struggled during the practice session ahead of the 312-lap race. The HMS car faced some tire issues and also scuffed the outside wall. Following that, Daniels and Larson worked together to build a championship-winning car. While doing so, the duo lost track of time and missed the media day availability.

Cliff Daniels pointed out that Kyle Larson approved of the fixes and stated:

"Was extended for a little while with the tire issues. Kyle and I were completely locked into what we had going on, and I was looking at the car, and before I knew it, I missed our time. So my apologies for that. Thank you all for accommodating overall for the weekend. I think our team's in a really good spot."

Kyle Larson and Cliff Daniels have been working together since the Cup Series team introduced the #5 Chevy team in 2021. Since then, Daniels has guided Larson to multiple victories and helped him clinch two Cup Series titles in 2021 and 2025.

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Edited by Karan Yadav