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Denny Hamlin’s Mixed Emotions: Saluting Team’s Success Despite Personal Frustrations in Phoenix Raceway Nail-Biter

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 10, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Denny Hamlin’s Mixed Emotions: Saluting Team’s Success Despite Personal Frustrations in Phoenix Raceway Nail-Biter

Mar 9, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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In a heart-stopping finish at the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway, NASCAR’s Christopher Bell clinched his third straight Cup Series victory by a hair’s breadth. Securing the win by a mere 0.049 seconds, Bell established the closest finish in the history of the Phoenix Raceway. This victory underscored the early dominance of Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2025 season, with a 1-2 finish, and saw Bell become the first driver since Kevin Harvick in 2018 to triumph in three of the first four races. Yet, the success was not sweet for all, as teammate Denny Hamlin’s reaction suggested a mix of disappointment despite the team’s dominance.

Hamlin’s remarks after the race revealed his conflicting feelings of pride in his team’s performance and irritation at his close yet elusive victory. His comments also exposed a certain duplicity, contradicting statements he made just days prior on his Actions Detrimental Podcast.

Hamlin had nothing but praise for his team in his post-race interview, lauding their improvement over the course of the race. He was especially complimentary of his pit crew, whose efficient work allowed him to remain a serious contender, despite the razor-thin margin of victory. “Great job… They just got better and better as they went. The pit crew did a phenomenal job to keep us in the game,” Hamlin noted.

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The strategic challenges of the race were not lost on Hamlin, as he fell short of victory in the final moments. Having been neck and neck with Bell on the last lap, Hamlin managed to pull slightly ahead as they rounded Turn 3. Unfortunately, he lost momentum in the final stretch, allowing Bell to reclaim the lead and snatch the win by a fraction.

Hamlin applauded the entire JGR team for a successful weekend which saw them clinch the top two spots in the race. “Great job by the whole Joe Gibbs team for giving us some fast cars”, he said. He also extended congratulations to Bell on his historic win. Yet, this commendation caught the attention of some NASCAR fans due to its stark contrast to Hamlin’s earlier admission, “There is nobody I hate seeing win more than my teammate.” This statement was made just a week prior after Bell’s win at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

Hamlin’s performance at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix was plagued with misfortunes, including a damaged left front, a penalty for shortcutting on Turn 5, and a collision with Austin Dillon on lap 78. These setbacks resulted in a disappointing 21st place finish for Hamlin. This undoubtedly fueled his expressed frustration at seeing his teammate win.

Despite driving identical cars with the same package, the race outcomes for Bell and Hamlin couldn’t have been more different. “I don’t want him to beat me; you always measure yourself off of teammates,” Hamlin confessed. However, he managed to mask his increasing frustration, adopting a gracious tone in acknowledging Bell’s victory and the team’s collective effort.

As the NASCAR season unfolds, the evolving dynamics within the JGR team, particularly between Hamlin and Bell, will be intriguing to follow. Stay tuned for more updates!

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