![\"\u2018This](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2244692174.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDenny Hamlin after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 race at Phoenix.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDenny Hamlin after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 race at Phoenix.<\/p>\n
Could it compare to any of his previous shortcomings?<\/p>\n
\u201cThis cut is deep,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way, not even close. This one\u2019s deep.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, in his mind, did everything right. He led the most laps of any driver and was on course to secure the winner-takes-all Phoenix final.<\/p>\n
That was until William Byron suffered a puncture, crashed into the wall with four laps to go, and brought out a yellow that set up an overtime finish.<\/p>\n
Hamlin pitted and changed four tyres. Larson pitted and changed two tyres. Track position paid dividends and Larson finished ahead of Hamlin to clinch the title having not led a lap.<\/p>\n
The discussion post-race has largely been around Hamlin losing his grip on the championship in the closing minutes of that race. Larson, meanwhile, has had very little time in the sun.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a bit torn as well, because my friend won the championship and it\u2019s not being talked about that much,\u201d said Hamlin, who went on to recount the final moments of the race.<\/p>\n
![\"Denny](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2244686085-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 race at Phoenix.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the first time, and no disrespect to them, I don\u2019t think I saw them until the white flag lap,\u201d he said of Larson.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t remember a lap where he was ahead of me at any point of the race. I remember seeing him for the very first time right after we took the white in the dog leg when I went down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI looked up, because they told me on the back stretch with two to go, the #5 is pinned on the outside. I thought he was one of the cars I was clearing in three and four.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when I saw him, I knew then that it was over. I had only about a half a lap to say, \u2018Oh my god, he\u2019s going to win\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s where the shock came from just doing all the right things.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven the pit road metric. I felt like I did my job everywhere. Even beat everyone for most if not all of the scheduled distance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went longer and unfortunately on that last lap I saw my fate right in front of me.\u201d<\/p>\n