“I’m not as talented as they are”: Denny Hamlin opens up about his strategy to tackle “much faster” rivals at Phoenix

Denny Hamlin, who is vying for his maiden NASCAR Cup Series championship, thinks that he is not as talented as his fellow contenders. His comments surfaced during a recent interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, not long after winning the pole for this Sunday’s championship race at Phoenix.

Hamlin is currently the longest-tenured driver in the Cup Series without a championship. The closest he has been was back in 2010, when he finished the season second behind seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.

“It’s what I have to do, I mean, I’m not as talented as they are,” Denny Hamlin explained. “I have to work really really hard to make speed and keep up with the younger guys that came in much younger, much faster than guys like, 20-30 years ago.”

This season, Hamlin is ranked second in the championship standings with six wins, 14 top-fives, and 14 top-10s. He has led a total of 816 laps with an average finish of 14.206. Hamlin’s most recent victory came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025, which also allowed him to make the Championship 4 for the first time since 2021.

Besides Denny Hamlin, JGR newcomer Chase Briscoe is also running for a championship. The remaining two drivers in the top four are from Hendrick Motorsports.

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Kyle Larson reflects on Denny Hamlin's 2025 championship bid

Earlier this year, Denny Hamlin bagged his 60th win of his career. Now, he is looking for his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series championship. Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevy Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports, said that it would be cool if Hamlin won.

“I’m a competitor,” said Larson. “I obviously want to win. But it would be really cool to see somebody who has put in so much time to this sport and been so close so many times. 60 wins. I agree. I’m going to want to kick his ass tomorrow, but it’s not going to kill me if he wins, unless he runs me in the fence again.” "No, I mean, honestly, I’m not surprised, I guess,” Larson continued. “I think because everybody likes a story like that where somebody nearing the end of their career, all that. It’s great. I mean, I can see why people would cheer for him.”

Kyle Larson has a championship to his name already, which he won back in 2021, his first year with Hendrick Motorsports. His first win with the team came in March 2021 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while his latest victory came at Kansas Speedway in May 2025.

All eyes are on Phoenix for Denny Hamlin’s upcoming race. Named Championship 4, the 312-lap event will be televised on Peacock (October 2, 7:30 pm ET) with live radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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Edited by Tushhita Barua