“Race wins have more value”: Brad Keselowski reflects on Denny Hamlin’s heartbreak amid Kyle Larson’s ‘deserving’ championship run 

Brad Keselowski weighed in on the dramatic finish to the 2025 NASCAR Cup season. He said that he felt for Denny Hamlin but argued that race wins now carry more weight than season titles. The former NASCAR Cup champion added that Kyle Larson was the best driver in the sport and deserved the championship under any format.

The No. 5 Chevy driver captured his second Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway while crossing the line third in the season finale. He did not lead a lap in that race, yet the points and timing of the late caution handed him the title. Meanwhile, Hamlin left the track stunned. He collected the most (six) wins this season and led more laps than any other driver at Phoenix. However, the late caution in the closing stages altered the pit strategy and track position, which allowed Larson to move past Hamlin.

Keselowski shared his annual NASCAR season thread on X and his thoughts on the odd results.

"Do I feel bad for [Denny Hamlin]? Yes, but we are in an age where race wins have more value than championships and he has won a lot the last few years," Brad Keselowski wrote.

Keselowski also called Kyle Larson the 'best driver in NASCAR' and wrote:

"He deserved to win the championship regardless of format."

The current playoff structure places a heavy weight on wins and stage points across rounds, and resets the Championship 4 on points for the final race. The format allows cautions to change the championship outcome and make season-long consistency less important. Larson, who had a more dominant season in 2024, saw Joey Logano's late-season wins and overall moderate average finishes take the title.

Keselowski has supported and argued heavily for a return to the 36-race points system for the NASCAR championship.

Brad Keselowski on near misses and the last corner at Phoenix

Brad Keselowski commented on his runner-up finishes and missed chances this season. The RFK Racing driver and co-owner had three second-place finishes at Atlanta, Bristol, and this Sunday at Phoenix.

Keselowski started the final restart at the season-finale with Ryan Blaney in the first row but finished second to him by just 0.097 seconds. He was leading until the Team Penske star moved past him coming off turn four and explained what happened at the final turn in the same thread on X.

"We were close 3-5 times. I must find a way to make it count and close it out in 2026. We also need to be faster to have more chances. ... I thought the 5 [Larson] and 12 [Blaney] were gonna bump and run for the win. Got in hard to protect and slid the back on old tires. That stunk," Brad Keselowski wrote.

Keselowski has not won a race since last season's spring race at Darlington Raceway.

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Edited by Hitesh Nigam