Denny Hamlin: Championship Slips Away

Hamlin finished sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

Analysis:

The Joe Gibbs Racing star would lead a race-high 208 laps from the pole and dominate the day in Arizona. Late in the race Hamlin would look poised to win and capture the championship. However, a late-race caution for William Byron's flat tire and crash into the wall would bring out the caution and a dreaded pit stop decision. Hamlin would opt for four fresh tires for overtime as others would opt for 2. The decision would put Hamlin 10th-place on the overtime restart. He could only manage sixth-place by the checkered flag and would see Kyle Larson finish third and grab the 2025 title.