It was May 2023 at Kansas Speedway. The tension had built up all race long, but few could have predicted the fireworks that would explode on the final lap. Denny Hamlin, riding a 33-race winless streak, chased down Kyle Larson with every ounce of grit he had left. With the white flag waving, Hamlin got to Larson’s bumper and nudged his way past in a move that drew both cheers and boos. Contact was made. Larson hit the wall. Hamlin crossed the line first. Victory at last.
That win meant more than a trophy. It was Hamlin’s fourth at Kansas and his 49th overall, tying him with Tony Stewart. More importantly, it marked a revival. His team had finally executed flawlessly, and Hamlin praised both his pit crew and his resilient drive. “It is a big win for Joe Gibbs Racing, for myself… Every win is very, very hard to get, so you have to take everyone you can,” he said, beaming. Even his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, acknowledged the magnitude of the moment, calling Larson “the most talented race car driver in the world.”
While Larson later admitted that Hamlin was the better driver, he kept that defeat in mind and came back stronger in 2024. He held off Chris Buescher in a last-lap thriller to win the closest NASCAR race ever by just 0.001 seconds. While it was historic, Larson didn’t stop there and came back stronger and more resilient in 2025. The past Sunday, he crushed the field. Starting on pole, sweeping both stages, and leading 221 of 267 laps, he made it look too easy. Or so it seemed, but Denny Hamlin wasn’t convinced.
Denny Hamlin questions Kyle Larson’s dominance
Kyle Larson returned to Kansas Speedway last Sunday and ran a nearly perfect race. From the green flag to the checkered, he looked untouchable. By the end, the Hendrick Motorsports driver had built just enough of a cushion to hold off Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney. That made back-to-back spring wins at Kansas, one by 0.001 seconds, the other by nearly a second. This was indeed a dominant run, at least by the statistics.
But Denny Hamlin isn’t letting the numbers tell the whole story. On his Action Detrimental podcast, he shared a different perspective. According to Hamlin, Larson isn’t running away from the field — he’s just not making mistakes while others are. “I think he is less dominant than in years past. He’s fast, but I think he can be had. He’s doing a really good job at qualifying well, executing, not making mistakes, and staying out of the middle of the pack. When he gets into the middle of the pack, I haven’t seen the same speed he used to have,” Hamlin said.
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Practice Feb 12, 2025 Daytona Beach, Florida, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 11 during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Daytona International Speedway Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 20250212_mjr_su5_166
Hamlin didn’t shy away from pointing fingers, including at himself. “Every contender that was even close stepped on their own. I don’t know what else to say about it. It’s not his fault that we all couldn’t execute,” he said. Hamlin’s argument gained weight when you looked at how Larson’s rivals fell apart. Brad Keselowski was running second when disaster struck. He blew a tire on Lap 195 while chasing Elliott and smacked the wall hard. “I hit pretty hard, so I doubt it’s fixable,” Keselowski radioed. His day ended on the 37th.
Another contender, Chase Elliott, had the lead coming out of pit road but lost 11 positions when his crew had trouble with the right rear tire. William Byron hit the wall early and fell off the lead lap. And Hamlin himself had issues with the clutch. Larson wasn’t at fault, but it’s hard to ignore that, despite having a fast car, he struggles to take a decisive lead. In Texas, he had a chance to pull away, but Joey Logano and Kyle Busch took him down. In Kansas also he barely managed to have a second lead despite leading more than 221 laps and almost the final 10 laps.
Still, Hamlin gave Larson the respect he earned. “They’re doing everything right,” he admitted. “They’re fast and they’re executing. And nobody else is doing it. That’s why he’s winning in such dominant fashion, statistically.” Kyle Busch echoed that view: “It’s not his fault.” The consensus? Larson isn’t at fault, but the race didn’t turn into a runaway for the reasons it seemed. In fairness to Larson, the numbers are staggering.
After 12 races, he has three wins, eight top-fives, and nine top tens. His 817 laps led are by far the most in the field. He’s averaging a 9.83 finish with just one DNF. His Kansas win was also his third at the track and the 32nd of his Cup career, tying Dale Jarrett. Plus, he leads the points standings by 35 over teammate Byron. But even with all that, Hamlin stands firm. “But who knows, right? Maybe he’s got more lap time in the bank. If someone actually challenges him, maybe he’ll step on the pedal and embarrass all of us. We just don’t know because it hasn’t happened yet,” he added.
And just like that, Denny Hamlin brought us back to Earth. While fans marvel at Larson’s numbers, Hamlin sees cracks. And maybe, just maybe, he’s right. As the Cup Series heads toward the summer stretch, one question now lingers: Is Larson truly unstoppable, or just a well-executed illusion? But before that, Hamlin reveals his biggest race loss, which cost him a coveted title.
Denny Hamlin opens up about his 2019 heartbreak
For all of Denny Hamlin’s success, 56 career wins and a near-certain Hall of Fame future, one thing still haunts him: the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series championship. He had it in his grasp. And then it was gone. That year’s finale at Homestead-Miami was supposed to be the crowning moment. Hamlin had the speed. He had the strategy. And he had a car capable of winning it all. But a pit crew decision unraveled everything.
They placed a large piece of tape on the front grille during a stop, hoping to boost speed through better aerodynamics. Instead, the engine overheated. Hamlin was forced to pit. Momentum lost. Title hopes dashed as Kyle Busch clinched his second title. In the latest episode of Action Detrimental, Hamlin opened up about it. “I thought 2019 was the one. We had a great car, a great strategy, and we were right there. But that one decision changed everything,” Hamlin said.
As Busch lifted the trophy and celebrated it with his wife, Samantha, and son Brexton, Hamlin, helpless on the pit lane, could only watch. “It’s the one that got away,” he admitted. The heartbreak still lingers, even as new victories come. Busch, reflecting on the day, recalled: “I was running second to you at the time. I usually try to keep a little in reserve for the end of the race, but that day, I thought I could get you.”
Now 44, Hamlin is still chasing the one prize that eludes him. He has already booked his place in the playoffs with back-to-back wins. He’ll try again this year. But for now, his focus shifts to the million-dollar glory in North Wilkesboro. As the All-Star Race looms, he would like to make a momentum to ride into the final half of the season. Because even legends have unfinished business.
The post “I Think He Is Less Dominant” – Denny Hamlin Cautiously Hands Kyle Larson a Reality Check After Kansas Win appeared first on EssentiallySports.
