Denny Hamlin reveals his father’s reaction to losing the NASCAR championship

Denny Hamlin has raced for the championship several times before, but his bid for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship was somewhat special. And that’s because he wanted his ailing father to watch him capture that elusive title.

However, Hamlin fell short of winning the ultimate honor yet again and was forced to settle for a runner-up finish on points. Kyle Larson won the title, marking his second Cup Series championship, whereas Hamlin went back home heartbroken.

In an episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin was asked how his father reacted to his son losing the championship. Hamlin replied,

“He was fine. Very supportive. He didn't like the outcome, but I think he was still okay with the result. You know, he said to me, just like a lot of people say...he's like, 'I don't know what to say. You had it. You did it. You just don't have the trophy, that's it.'"

Denny Hamlin is the longest-tenured driver in the NASCAR Cup Series as well as at Joe Gibbs Racing without a championship. 2025 marks his 20th season with the Huntersville, North Carolina-based outfit. The closest he has been to winning the title was back in 2010 when he finished second behind Jimmie Johnson.

Hamlin will be back next year behind the wheel of his No. 11 Toyota Camry. The season will kick off with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1. However, the Clash is an exhibition-style event. The first points-paying race of the season is the Daytona 500, which is scheduled for February 15.

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Denny Hamlin reveals why he would have “begged” for retirement had he won at Phoenix

Denny Hamlin’s current contract with Joe Gibbs Racing runs through 2027, but the Tampa, Florida, native would have begged team owner Joe Gibbs to let him retire had he won the 2025 Cup Series title. According to him, it would have been the perfect way to exit the Cup Series arena.

“Listen, I would've begged Joe (Gibbs) to let me quit had I won that race," Hamlin said in a statement. "Because it would've been the perfect way for me to go out."

However, Joe Gibbs Racing is not yet ready to let Hamlin leave. They need him to return for his 21st season of his career and contend for the title one more time.

“They have to have time to work on my succession plan, and we obviously set a date out now to at least come to when that is,” he continued. “But I would've certainly really, really asked him (Joe Gibbs) a big favor to let me end on that one had it gone well."

Denny Hamlin wrapped up his 2025 season with six wins, 14 top fives, and 18 top-10s to his name. He led a total of 1024 laps, with an average finish of 13.971.

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Edited by Tushhita Barua