Missing Rings: Denny Hamlin 2025

For two decades, Denny Hamlin has lived NASCAR’s ultimate heartbreak story. Time and time again, he’s come close, only for fate, tires, or pit calls to rip that elusive championship from his grasp. From the near-miss of 2010 to the chaos of 2019, from the “Hail Melon” to endless playoff heartbreaks, Hamlin’s journey has been a masterclass in perseverance—and frustration. But in 2025, with a new crew chief and an aging window, Denny reminded everyone he’s not done yet.

• How did Hamlin’s early season struggles transform into a championship-caliber comeback?
• What key moments defined his late-season surge—Michigan, St. Louis, Las Vegas?
• Why did Phoenix become the cruelest chapter yet in his story of near-misses?
• And will this be the season that finally cements Hamlin’s legacy—or closes the book for good?

After twenty years of chasing, heartbreak may have written the story, but Hamlin’s determination keeps adding new pages. This one hurts more than most—and raises the question every fan is asking: what if this really was his last shot?

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