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Denny Hamlin during qualifying.
Denny Hamlin did something a little different after losing the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship in Phoenix. Instead of shutting down or getting defensive, he turned to someone who truly understands heartbreak on racing’s biggest stage, Carl Edwards.
On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin opened up about the conversations that helped him process the loss and rethink what really matters. At 44 years old, still chasing that first title after years of close calls, Hamlin had every reason to feel crushed. He led the race, won Stage 2, and bounced back from a tire problem with a smart pit strategy. For a moment, it looked like the day he’d finally seal the deal. Then everything changed.
What Denny Hamlin Learned From Edwards
Hamlin said Edwards changed his thinking about success, purpose, and life after racing. He explained, “Every time he talks now, I’m very tuned in to what he says, because I respect him so much and I respect a guy that fought his entire life to reach the pinnacle. Then got to the pinnacle and said, ‘You know what? I don’t think this is what I meant to do forever.’ There’s something else that is more for me out there.”
Their history goes back to 2015 and 2016, when they were teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing. Edwards admired Hamlin’s talent long before these recent conversations.
“Edwards said on the Dale Jr. Download, Denny’s so good, it blew my mind the things he could do in the car. I always wanted to talk to Denny more, to understand how he thought.”
How Phoenix Slipped Away
In the final laps, William Byron’s blown tire brought out a caution and forced overtime. Kyle Larson took two tires. Hamlin took four. That one decision flipped the race. Larson held the lead on the restart and won the championship. The moment felt eerily similar to Edwards’ own 2016 title loss at Homestead-Miami, when a late restart crash ended his shot and eventually pushed him out of the sport.
This time, some fans wondered if Hamlin immediately called Edwards after the race. On the podcast, he cleared things up but confirmed they’ve been talking a lot. “I had some good conversations with him (Carl Edwards) and where I feel like he has helped me here lately… would be understanding the bigger picture of racing is just a very small part of your life and you’re going to find a lot of gratification outside of that,” Hamlin said.
Edwards’ Path After Racing
Edwards, now 46, walked away in early 2017 after 28 wins in 445 starts. His exit came months after the Homestead crash with Joey Logano. Since then, he’s focused on aviation and living quietly. He rarely returns to NASCAR races, but when he does speak, drivers like Hamlin listen.
Hamlin, who has 60 Cup wins, still has no championship trophy. Even so, he says Edwards helped him find peace. He confirmed he’ll return in 2026 and said, “I admire him so much. He said some very kind words to me after the race, and it’s made me feel as though I’ve accomplished what I wanted to accomplish in the sport.”
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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