Denny Hamlin has been racing within the NASCAR Cup Collection for 20 years, ending the 12 months inside the highest 5 within the championship standings ten occasions.
That spectacular profession consists of 60 profession wins (tied for tenth on the all-time wins listing), three Daytona 500 trophies, three Southern 500 triumphs, and a Coca-Cola 600. He is even gained the All-Star Race. And whereas Hamlin has by no means gained a NASCAR Cup championship, everybody thought 2025 was lastly going to be his 12 months.
Hamlin led the collection in race wins and was on the heart of each storyline that mattered. He ran an ideal race at Phoenix, dominating his title rivals, and but, he nonetheless left empty-handed. It is a acquainted feeling for the motive force of the No. 11, who’s now zero for 20 in his makes an attempt to change into a champion on the highest degree of inventory automobile racing. Here is a glance again on all the moments when he practically grasped the Invoice France Cup:
2006 – A powerful rookie season
The 2006 NASCAR Chase for the Nextel Cup remaining contenders: Dale Earnhardt Jr.; Denny Hamlin; Kevin Harvick; Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson
Photograph by: Kurt Dahlstrom
Hamlin wasn’t ‘that’ shut in his first season within the Cup Collection, but it surely’s nonetheless price mentioning. Below the outdated ten-race postseason and initially of Jimmie Johnson’s historic five-year run as champion, Hamlin ended the season 68 factors behind him and simply 12 factors behind Matt Kenseth for the runner-up spot. Below the 2006 factors format, the margin between Hamlin and Johnson was the factors hole between 1st and fifteenth in any given race.
2010 — Giving it away within the closing race
Pit cease for Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
Now that is the one most will bear in mind effectively, and till this previous weekend, it was the one time Hamlin has ended the season because the championship runner-up. Hamlin entered the finale with the championship lead, and 15 factors between himself and Johnson. Hamlin began the race in the back of the sector, and was a bit too impatient in trying to make his means by way of the pack. He made contact with Greg Biffle simply 25 laps into the race and spun out. He by no means actually recovered after struggling some splitter injury, ending 14th whereas Johnson completed second. He misplaced the title by 39 factors.
2014 — A member of the primary Championship 4
The 4 drivers for the 2014 Dash Cup: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Staff Penske Ford, Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: NASCAR Media
Hamlin was one of many first to make all of it the best way to the ultimate spherical within the present elimination-style format. He joined Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, and Joey Logano within the inaugural Championship 4. He led 50 laps, however Harvick appeared to have the velocity benefit. Throughout a late-race warning, Hamlin stayed out whereas the remainder of his title rivals selected to pit. Hamlin held the lead for a number of laps, however Harvick ran him down and took the highest spot away with simply seven laps to go. Newman adopted go well with, and Hamlin was left to complete third within the championship standings.
2019 — Working too scorching
Denny Hamlin throughout driver introductions for championship finale
Photograph by: Brian Lawdermilk by way of Getty Photos
In 2019, Hamlin was a part of a Championship 4 that featured teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., in addition to Harvick once more. The workforce applies an excessive amount of grill tape for the ultimate run as he tried to chase down Busch for the title. With 50 laps left, the water temperature was pegged and the automobile started to push water. Going through an engine failure if he stayed out, Hamlin was pressured to return to pit highway. As he pulled into his stall, water was pouring out like a geyser from the No. 11 automobile. He ended the race in tenth place, and fourth within the championship standings.
2020 — Not fairly quick sufficient
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton by way of Getty Photos
Making it to the Championship 4 is sort of the feat, however as soon as there, you need to have the ability to contend. Within the first 12 months with Phoenix because the finale, Hamlin was merely outmatched. He led no laps and completed fourth among the many title finalists. He ran inside prime 5 for a lot of the race, however he merely had nothing for the Penske and Hendrick vehicles he was dealing with.
2021 — Falling quick on late-race restart
Closing restart of 2020 championship race with Kyle Larson main Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr.
Photograph by: Christian Petersen by way of Getty Photos
For the third consecutive 12 months, Hamlin made the ultimate 4, however once more lacked the velocity essential to exit and win outright. Hamlin nonetheless managed to complete third within the race and the championship, however like one 12 months prior, he did not lead a single lap. On the ultimate restart, he was on the entrance row beside Kyle Larson, however Larson was away from Hamlin earlier than they even reached Flip 1. With how necessary clear air was with the 550hp package deal, that was sport over.
2022 — Eradicated by the unthinkable
Ross Chastain wall-rides by Denny Hamlin for closing Championship 4 switch spot
Photograph by: Jeff Robinson of Icon Sportswire by way of Getty
Hamlin did not make it to the Championship 4 in 2022, however the best way he was knocked out of rivalry makes it loads worthy to be on this listing. He entered the Spherical of 8 cutoff race at a deficit to Ross Chastain, however he made all of it up by way of stage factors and a robust efficiency at Martinsville. He entered Flip 3 on the ultimate lap in a cushty place and +2pts above Chastain, making certain his personal development. Nonetheless, he exited Flip 4 with a smoking No. 1 automobile quickly approaching as Chastain rode towards the skin wall at a excessive charge of velocity. Chastain beat Hamlin to the road in a transfer nobody thought doable earlier than it was accomplished, and Hamlin was in full shock as he was eradicated from title rivalry. The one comfort is that Penske dominated Phoenix the next weekend, and it is possible Hamlin would have fallen wanting Logano anyway, simply as Chastain did.
2025 — 40 seconds away…
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Photos
As Hamlin himself mentioned, he was about 40 seconds away from taking the white flag and making certain the race could not go into additional time when the warning flag flew for William Byron, who hit the wall with a reduce tire. On the time, Hamlin was cruising out entrance with one hand on the trophy. It is the closest he is ever come to successful all of it. Hamlin’s workforce had three selections at this level: Keep out, take two tires, or 4. They opted for 4 recent tires, which dropped him from first to tenth on monitor. They underestimated what number of would go onto an alternate technique, and sure did not count on title rival Kyle Larson to take two tires once more after doing it in the course of the earlier pit cease. Hamlin tried to claw his means ahead, but it surely was a futile effort as he solely reached sixth place whereas Larson completed third and stole the title away. Larson did it with out main a single lap, whereas a devastated Hamlin had led over 200 laps that day. Behind the wheel, he did every thing proper, however nonetheless misplaced.
20 full-time seasons in Cup, 60 profession wins, and nonetheless no championship. He has two years left on what could also be his closing contract with Joe Gibbs Racing earlier than retirement, so there’s nonetheless a while left for the 44-year-old to get it accomplished. Nonetheless, this newest defeat will likely be hardest to swallow, with Hamlin not too long ago saying:
“I plan to (race subsequent 12 months). I’ve a contract to, however there’s, at this level, there’s simply completely no means that I might even … I don’t even take into consideration the race automobile proper now. Simply yeah, I’m gonna want a while on this one.”
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