Denny Hamlin was the story throughout the 2025 NASCAR Cup season, and not just because he led the field with six wins. He nearly won the Daytona 500 for a fourth time, but got wrecked while battling for the lead with half a lap to go. He was at the epicentre of several dramatic moments, and he was consistently one of the fastest drivers on the track.
He also appeared to be motivated like never before, even muscling his own driver, Bubba Wallace, out of the way in an attempt to earn his 60th career win at Kansas. However, it was Las Vegas where he charged to the lead in the closing laps, besting both his team-mate Chase Briscoe and Kyle Larson to finally earn that 60th career win. That milestone victory ties him for 10th on the all-time wins list, and launched him into the Championship 4.
At the Phoenix finale, he led 208 of 319 laps and only lost the crown due to a four-tyre call in overtime that cost him track position. He charged back through the field but simply ran out of time to catch Larson. It was an emotional loss for Hamlin, who has been trying for two decades to become a champion at the highest level of NASCAR.
And while he won't walk away with the trophy, 2025 was a stellar year for Hamlin. He led laps in 21 of the 35 races he entered (he missed Mexico City due to the birth of his child), and was one of just three drivers to lead over 1000 laps. He also earned his six wins at six very different track layouts, including challenging ovals such as Dover and Darlington.
This all came while he waged a legal battle off the track against NASCAR and the 2025 Charter Agreement, but he didn't let that distract him from his job behind the wheel of the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. All of this success came with a new crew chief as well, as he partnered with Chris Gayle for the first time in 2025.
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