When Steve Letarte weighed in on Denny Hamlin’s prospects at Phoenix Raceway in the Cup Series season finale, he took a measured stance. The former crew chief had said he hoped that if Hamlin fell short, it would be on his own terms and that he’d give it everything he had. And that’s exactly what played out on Sunday.
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Watching Hamlin’s latest title bid slip through his fingers after yet another season of excellence left Letarte, like many others, gutted. Evidently, the tide of support behind Hamlin wasn’t limited to fans this time around.
Even insiders, seasoned veterans who typically keep emotions at bay, were quietly rooting for the Joe Gibbs Racing ace to finally get his due. Hamlin had been consistent all year, topping the win charts and performing well right through the playoffs. But Phoenix Raceway, a track that’s seen so many heartbreaks before, turned into another cruel venue for the JGR driver.
A late caution triggered by William Byron’s tire failure turned the race, and the championship, on its head. It robbed Hamlin of the control he’d fought to maintain throughout the race.
Discussing the finale on NASCAR Inside the Race with Alex Weaver and Jeff Burton, Letarte didn’t mask his emotions. “Look, I’ll be honest in the TV booth, I don’t think Jeff and I have really ever rooted for anyone,” he said.
“We just root for a good race. I think the fans [are] on it. But I will tell you that I was a little heartbroken for Denny. I feel like after 20 years… I guess I thought the dice were going to come his way for once,” added Letarte, before reflecting on how Hamlin’s demeanor this season had been different, matured, composed, and grounded, shaped by fatherhood and personal growth.
“His perspective this year has been like any other year, whether that’s fatherhood or all the other challenges that he’s gone through. And then to come here and just be as good as they were, I think that’s the difference… All I hoped I didn’t really care who won. I didn’t want a mechanical issue or something like that to end it,” continued Letarte.
“And none of that happened. Yet, I still feel bad for Denny, excited for Kyle Larson, but I do I just feel awful for a competitor who I thought gave us a championship performance that just wasn’t meant to be,” he added.
This sentiment has echoed across the sport. Fans who once booed Hamlin now find themselves empathizing with his plight, understanding the sting of coming so close, so many times, yet missing out. And while Hamlin, in the raw aftermath, admitted that he doesn’t even feel like getting behind the wheel again, time will likely soften the blow.
For a driver of his caliber, with 60 Cup wins and countless near-misses, the unfinished Cup Championship win mission will be haunting him. At 44, Hamlin may have been dealt another cruel hand, but he’s far from folding.
If his 2025 performance was any indication, he’s still got what it takes to succeed and the fight to chase that championship for a few more seasons.
