Denny Hamlin didn’t win the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship, however, he won something even greater. Hamlin didn’t get the trophy, but he earned the respect from his competitors and the fans.

“I felt it, and I saw it. I still see it and feel it on social media,” Hamlin said on last Friday’s Actions Detrimental podcast. “It’s gratifying for me because the cups are empty; the trophies mean nothing. There’s only a few people who walk through the front door of this house, there’s only a few people that see it. It’s the respect that we really all ultimately seek.” 

Hamlin experienced heartbreak in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Chasing his first title, Hamlin led a championship race record 208 laps. He was less than three miles away from the championship before William Byron blew a tire and made contact with the wall, bringing out one final caution. 

Hamlin and the No. 11 team went with four tires on the pit stop before overtime. Kyle Larson and others went with two tires. Hamlin and his team got it wrong; Larson and his team got it right. Larson won the championship, his second, despite failing to lead a single lap at Phoenix. 

Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin have similarities

Hamlin turned 45 Tuesday. He confirmed he will return to race in 2026, though the opportunities to win a championship are shrinking. If it never happens, Hamlin will go down as the most accomplished driver to have never won a championship, right next to Mark Martin. Hamlin is at peace with that. And while Martin never got the trophy, he more than earned the respect from the garage. 

“Mark Martin… the guy never won a championship but if you don’t put him in your top 10 greatest drivers of all-time, you’re absolutely crazy,” Hamlin said. “Anybody that raced against him knew that guy was doing exceptional things, even when he didn’t have the fastest car, he made speed and won races. Everybody knew; you ask Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace and guys with far more wins than Mark Martin, they’d say, ‘Yeah, well, Mark’s the toughest. Mark was the hardest to beat.’ 

“So, that’s why I think Mark Martin would tell you I’m satisfied, I’m gratified, I’ve won what I hoped to win, which was the respect of my peers and the respect from the fans that I am one of the greatest drivers.”