Denny Hamlin sparks speculation on NASCAR future with comments after championship race heartbreak

Denny Hamlin was shellshocked at the conclusion of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Hamlin was less than three miles away from winning his first career championship, two decades after making his debut.

But then, William Byron blew a tire and hit the wall, forcing NASCAR to throw one final caution. Hamlin and the field came down pit road, the No. 11 team opting to give him four fresh Goodyear tires. Kyle Larson and five others went with two tires while others stayed out, creating a sizeable gap between the Championship 4 competitors. Hamlin didn’t have enough time to catch Larson, who won his second championship.

Following another agonizing championship race defeat, the 44-year-old has to decide if he wants to run it back next season. Asked Tuesday if he would race in 2025, Hamlin said that he’s under contract, though he’ll “need some time on this one.”

“I plan to, I have a contract to, but at this point, there’s just absolutely no way that I would even… I don’t even think about race car, right now,” Hamlin told Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. “Yeah, I’m going to need some time on this one.”

Immediately after the race, a dejected Hamlin was noncommittal about his NASCAR future: “In this moment, I never want to race a car ever again. My fun meter’s pegged.”

Denny Hamlin has a lot to think about

Not even two full days have passed. That wound of Sunday is still fresh. Before Hamlin can think about racing again, he must first get over what happened in the closing moments at Phoenix. Is three months enough time?

“I mean, the good news is the banquet’s two weeks earlier this year, so the offseason is a little bit longer,” Hamlin said. “I’ll get over it, it’s just gonna take a minute.”

Certainly, you can make an argument this was Hamlin’s best opportunity at winning a championship. He started on the pole and led a championship race record 208 laps. Hamlin was second to no one in terms of raw speed.

Still, however, it wasn’t enough. Something out his control when wrong. Set to turn 45 later this month, Hamlin has a lot to think about.