What Joe Gibbs told Denny Hamlin after the NASCAR championship slipped away

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin missed the chance to rewrite history in the 2025 season. He missed the opportunity to secure his maiden Cup Series championship title. Following that, team owner Joe Gibbs went into the pits and talked with Hamlin, boosting his morale.

Hamlin had a remarkable start at Phoenix Raceway and secured the pole position for the 312-lap race. The JGR driver clinched the pole by completing the one-mile track lap with a best time of 26.91 seconds and a top speed of 133.76 mph. However, this was not enough to secure the Cup Series championship title.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver lost a few spots in the initial stage and finished stage one in P3. Later, he recovered during stage two and claimed the stage win. But in the final stage, Hamlin's call to take four tires while everyone took two made the difference that cost him the championship title.

Despite losing his shot at the Cup Series championship victory, Joe Gibbs went into the pits and praised Denny Hamlin. Gibbs told the #11 Toyota driver:

“I’m proud of ya…thank you. Thank you for the years,”

Denny Hamlin has spent his entire career with Joe Gibbs Racing driving the #11 Toyota. The team initially drove Chevy cars, but since 2008, they have been fielding Toyotas. Hamlin has gathered 60 wins, 248 top fives, 376 top tens, and 48 poles for the team since 2005.

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“Not meant to be”: Joe Gibbs Racing driver expressed his disappointment after the Phoenix race

Despite a dominating season, NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin fell short of the 2025 Cup Series championship title. Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson clinched his second title, finishing ahead of Hamlin in the Phoenix Race held on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Later, during the post-race interaction with NBC Sports reporter Dave Burns, the #11 Toyota Camry XSE driver expressed his disappointment in ending yet another season without the championship title. Hamlin also opened up about his last pit stop call and told the press:

“Yeah, nothing I can do different. Prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend. My team gave me a fantastic car. Just didn’t work out. I was just praying for no caution. Had one there. What can you do? Just not meant to be." “We took four tires. I thought that definitely was the right call. Just so many cars took two there. Obviously put us back. Team did a fantastic job. They prepared a championship car. Just didn’t happen. I’ll try (to win a title again). I got a couple more shots at it," he added.

Denny Hamlin led the most laps at Phoenix (208), but it was not enough to make him the Cup Series champion. He crossed the finish line in sixth place, while Kyle Larson was third and took his second championship title.

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Edited by Karan Yadav