**Denny Hamlin Opens Up About His Painful 2025 Title Loss and Carl Edwards’ Impact**
Nearly two weeks after the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series finale, Denny Hamlin returned to his Actions Detrimental podcast to share how he has been processing the most painful title loss of his racing career. The seasoned Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) veteran credited former teammate Carl Edwards for helping him gain perspective and see the “bigger picture.”
The 2025 finale unfolded almost perfectly for Hamlin. He dominated much of the race, secured a win in Stage 2, and even survived a mid-race tire failure thanks to perfectly timed cautions. Late in the race, he cleared his rivals and seemed moments away from capturing his long-awaited first championship crown.
However, the outcome took a dramatic turn when William Byron blew a tire behind Hamlin, forcing the field into overtime. During the restart, Kyle Larson opted for two fresh tires while Hamlin chose four. Larson’s decision ultimately prevailed as he restarted ahead and maintained the championship lead, leaving Hamlin unable to recover. Many fans instantly drew parallels between this ending and Carl Edwards’ heartbreaking 2016 title collapse at Homestead.
### Addressing Online Speculation
On his podcast, Hamlin addressed circulating online claims suggesting that he had phoned Edwards after the race. He clarified that the story had been exaggerated but emphasized why their conversations meant so much to him.
> “I had some good conversations with him (Carl Edwards), and where I feel like he has helped me here lately is understanding that the bigger picture of racing is just a very small part of your life. You’re going to find a lot of gratification outside of that,” Hamlin explained.
> “Every time he talks now, I’m very tuned in to what he says because I respect him so much.” (31:08 onwards)
Hamlin admitted that Edwards’ perspective hit home in the days following the Phoenix race.
> “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. Everything else from here on is icing on the cake.”
### Shared History of Championship Heartbreaks
Both Hamlin and Edwards share a history marked by bitter championship disappointments. Edwards’ run in 2016 ended with a late-restart crash that triggered a caution, an incident he later said contributed to his abrupt retirement in early 2017.
For Hamlin, the 2025 Phoenix race added another chapter to a long list of near misses. He has now reached the Championship 4 five times without winning and finished runner-up twice, including a gut-wrenching title loss to Jimmie Johnson in 2010.
Though Hamlin is signed to compete through 2027, he revealed earlier this year that he would have seriously considered retirement had he secured the 2025 title.
### Carl Edwards Reflects on His Relationship With Hamlin
Carl Edwards’ connection to Denny Hamlin dates back to their time as teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing. Edwards joined JGR in 2015 from RFK Racing, spending two seasons with the team and frequently crossing paths with Hamlin before stepping away in 2017.
Earlier this year, on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Edwards expressed regret over not cultivating a deeper relationship with Hamlin during their time together.
> “I’d say Denny,” Edwards shared. “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. I could never get Denny to [open up], and I probably didn’t try enough. But I wanted to know what goes through his mind. He’s unbelievable at Martinsville, superspeedways, road courses, mile-and-a-halfs. Every skill set. And he was always getting better. I wish I could have picked Denny’s brain more.” (41:00 onwards)
### Finding Common Ground
Separated by circumstance—one denied a title in 2016, the other in 2025—Hamlin and Edwards now find common ground in what NASCAR has given them and what it has taken away. For Denny Hamlin, the guidance and perspective offered by Carl Edwards arrived exactly when he needed it most.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-it-s-made-feel-i-ve-accomplished-i-wanted-to-denny-hamlin-reveals-carl-edwards-helped-bigger-picture