What Joe Gibbs said to Denny Hamlin after losing the NASCAR championship

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin missed the chance to rewrite history in the 2025 season. He missed the chance to secure his first Cup Series championship title. Afterward, team owner Joe Gibbs went to the pits and spoke with Hamlin to lift his spirits.

Hamlin had a great start at Phoenix Raceway and took the pole position for the 312-lap race. The JGR driver clinched the pole by completing the one-mile course of the track with a best time of 26.91 seconds and a top speed of 133.76 mph. But it wasn’t enough to secure the Cup Series championship title.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver lost some points in the preliminary stage and finished the first stage in third place. Later, he recovered during the second stage and took the stage win. But in the final stretch, Hamlin’s call to take four frames when everyone else took two made the difference that cost him the championship title.

Despite missing his shot at winning the Cup Series championship, Joe Gibbs went to the pits and praised Denny Hamlin. Gibbs told the driver of the No. 11 Toyota:

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

Denny Hamlin spent his entire career with Joe Gibbs Racing driving the No. 11 Toyota. The team initially drove Chevys, but since 2008, they have started using Toyotas. Hamlin has collected 60 wins, 248 top fives, 376 top tens and 48 team poles since 2005.

‘It wasn’t meant to be’: Joe Gibbs Racing driver expresses disappointment after Phoenix race

Despite a dominant season, NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin fell short of the 2025 Cup Series championship title. Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson clinched his second title, holding off Hamlin at the Phoenix race held on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Later, during a post-race interaction with NBC Sports reporter Dave Burns, the driver of the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE expressed his disappointment in ending another season without a championship title. Hamlin also spoke about his final stop call and told the press:

“Yes, I couldn’t have done anything different. I prepared as best I could for the weekend. My team gave me a great car. I couldn’t work. I was just praying for caution. I had one right there. What can you do? It wasn’t meant to be.”

“We took four tires. I thought that was definitely the right decision. A lot of cars took two there. Obviously the team took us back. The team did a great job. They prepared the championship car. But it didn’t happen.” I will try (to win the title again). “I got a few more shots in,” he added.

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