Home » Sports » NASCAR

“We Knew The Format & He Did as Well”- Kyle Larson Shuts Down Sympathy Talk Over Denny Hamlin’s Title Heartbreak

Denny Hamlin was three laps away from the NASCAR Cup Series championship when it slipped out of his hands at Phoenix Raceway. Kyle Larson was the driver who benefited, even though Hamlin had led 208 laps and looked set to…

By Dipti Sood · Essentially Sports

Published: Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 1:01 AM

Key Things to Know

Kyle Larson dismissed sympathy for Denny Hamlin, stating that both competitors were fully aware of NASCAR's postseason format.
Larson admitted feeling awkward after benefiting from a late caution to win the 2025 title over Hamlin at Phoenix.
Hamlin entered the 2026 ten-race Chase as the regular-season champion with a 25-point bonus.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Kyle Larson explained that he has little sympathy left for Denny Hamlin's championship struggles, noting that both drivers understood NASCAR's playoff format. While Larson admitted to previously feeling bad when Hamlin lost the 2025 Cup Series championship after leading 208 laps at Phoenix Raceway, he emphasized that the current ten-race Chase format provides a different test that demands consistent scoring under pressure.

Larson has capitalized on the postseason format by securing multiple victories, including wins at Gateway, Kansas Speedway, and the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Following Larson's Talladega win and Hamlin's eighth-place finish, Larson extended his championship standings lead to 73 points over Hamlin with just two races remaining.

Read the full article on Essentially Sports