**Denny Hamlin’s Near-Misses: Five Times He Stood on the Brink of a NASCAR Cup Series Championship**
In his 20-year Cup Series journey, Denny Hamlin has come heartbreakingly close to winning the championship more times than fans can count. Since his impressive rookie season in 2006, Hamlin has consistently showcased his talent by finishing among the top five in the standings over ten times. Yet, the elusive title has slipped just out of reach on numerous occasions. Here, we revisit five standout moments when the Joe Gibbs Racing ace stood on the verge of NASCAR glory.
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### 2010: Denny Hamlin’s First Runner-Up Season
Hamlin entered the season finale holding a 15-point lead over NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, positioning himself as the favorite to clinch his first championship. Unfortunately, the race didn’t go as planned. Hamlin started at the rear of the field and was involved in an early spin after contact with Greg Biffle. This incident caused splitter damage that severely affected the car’s performance. He ultimately finished 14th, while Johnson secured a second-place finish — enough to overtake Hamlin and take home the championship trophy.
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### 2014: NASCAR’s First Championship Four Heartbreak
In 2014, NASCAR introduced the elimination-style Championship Four format, and Hamlin was among the final contenders. During the decisive race, he looked like a serious title threat, leading 50 laps and battling for the win. However, a late caution forced a strategic decision: Hamlin stayed out on older tires while most of his rivals pitted for fresh rubber. This gambit backfired when Kevin Harvick caught and passed him with just seven laps remaining. Hamlin eventually slipped to third in the final standings after being overtaken by Ryan Newman as well.
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### 2019: The Overheating Disaster
Once again making the Championship Four alongside teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., Hamlin’s 2019 title hopes were dashed by a mechanical mishap. His team applied too much grill tape, which led to the car overheating during the race. About 50 laps from the finish, a water leak forced Hamlin to pit to avoid engine failure. This trouble resulted in a disappointing DNF and saw him finish fourth in the final championship points.
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### 2021: Maiden Fight with Kyle Larson
Hamlin kept his streak alive with his third consecutive Championship Four appearance in 2021. After finishing fourth in 2020, Hamlin hoped for better fortune but struggled to match the blistering pace set by his rivals, leading no laps in the finale. On the final restart, he lined up beside Kyle Larson but was unable to hold off Larson’s speed in clean air. Hamlin ultimately finished third in both the race and the championship standings — another strong but ultimately unfulfilled title run.
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### 2025: Larson’s Gamble, Hamlin’s Heartbreak
Entering the 2025 championship race as the winningest driver of the season, Hamlin looked poised for victory. Start-to-finish dominant, he earned the pole and led a race-high 208 of 319 laps. Despite battling clutch issues and a tire failure, the No. 11 car fought back to the lead seven different times. Just 40 seconds short of taking the white flag, disaster struck when William Byron hit the wall with a cut tire, triggering a caution that shuffled the running order.
For the overtime restart, Kyle Larson made a bold two-tire call, while Hamlin’s team opted for four fresh tires. As a result, Hamlin started from tenth, with Larson in sixth. Hamlin clawed his way back up to sixth, but Larson’s strategic gamble paid off — securing the title and leaving Hamlin heartbroken yet again.
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Despite the setbacks, Denny Hamlin’s remarkable consistency and competitiveness keep fans hopeful that his championship breakthrough is just around the corner. Here’s to the day the Joe Gibbs Racing ace finally hoists the Cup Series trophy.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-5-times-denny-hamlin-close-clinching-nascar-cup-series-championship