Kyle Petty lauded Denny Hamlin as a worthy champion despite his title loss at Phoenix, highlighting the veteran driver’s impressive achievements and strong performance throughout the race. Petty admitted he was “crushed” by Hamlin’s near miss, acknowledging the tough nature of the outcome.
During Sunday’s race, Hamlin ticked off almost every box on his title bid checklist. He won the pole position, led the most laps, and was pulling away from the field at one point. Despite facing clutch issues and a tire failure, the No. 11 team managed to hold off strong challenges from Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron.
Adding to the emotional stakes, Hamlin was also gunning for a win in front of his ailing father. Unfortunately, a late-race caution proved costly for the veteran driver. The No. 11 team opted for a four-tire pit stop, which caused them to lose valuable track position. As a result, the subsequent two-lap shootout wasn’t enough time for Hamlin to regain ground, with Kyle Larson ultimately finishing ahead on just two fresh tires.
In his latest segment with NASCAR, Kyle Petty reflected on the race outcome and Hamlin’s remarkable career. “Denny Hamlin is a champion in anyone’s book,” Petty stated. “It doesn’t matter that he’s hoisting that trophy or not. Three Daytona 500 wins, 60 wins in the Cup Series—not to mention all the top-5s and top-10s. And he’s an owner as well as a driver. He’s done so much for this sport.”
Defending the No. 11 team’s strategic call, Bubba Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft spoke out on the recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, supporting their decision for the four-tire pit stop.
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### Kyle Petty Praises Kyle Larson for Second Cup Series Title
Kyle Petty also praised Kyle Larson for securing his second championship title. Notably, Larson won the 319-lap event at Phoenix without leading a single lap the entire race. The No. 5 driver is currently enduring his longest winless streak since joining Hendrick Motorsports, having gone 24 races without a win by finishing third at Phoenix. His last victory was at Kansas Speedway, and he had previously experienced a 22-race drought in 2022.
Petty emphasized how challenging it is to emerge as a champion in the competitive Cup Series. “Two championships in this series are a huge deal,” he remarked. “We can go back to Bobby Allison with one, Bill Elliott with one, Rusty Wallace with one—so many great drivers.”
Reflecting on Larson’s performance at Phoenix, Petty added, “Cliff [the crew chief] made great calls, and they did everything they needed to capitalize on the one mistake or the one error that Denny made. That’s what a championship team does, and that’s what a champion does.”
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After a rocky start in the opening playoff round, Larson found his rhythm with four consecutive top-10 finishes, including two straight runner-up placements at Charlotte Roval and Las Vegas. Though he was the last driver on the lead lap at Talladega, Larson bounced back to finish fifth at Martinsville. It’s worth noting that he also finished third in the spring race at Phoenix earlier this season, showcasing his consistent competitiveness at the track.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-kyle-petty-delivers-verdict-who-s-2025-nascar-cup-series-champion-in-anyone-s-book