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The 2025 season of the NASCAR Cup Series saw thirty-four drivers (33 of them full-time) record a top-five finish for the first time since 2001. This was one more than last season's 33 and just the third time this many drivers had top-5 finishes in the NASCAR modern era since 1972.The winner’s circle was spread around. Denny Hamlin picked up the most (six wins) while road course specialist Shane van Gisbergen grabbed five wins. Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell collected five wins each. Meanwhile, 2025 Cup champion Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron had three wins each.NASCAR insights shared the season summary table on X.Last season, eighteen different NASCAR Cup drivers won a race. This tied for the third most all-time in the modern era. Meanwhile, Hamlin, who lost the season's final race at Phoenix in the last restart after leading most of it, has said that he needed more time to think about his racing plans for the next Cup season.NASCAR Cup loss for Denny Hamlin puts his 2026 commitment on holdIn the 2025 finale at Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin suffered another heartbreaking loss. He started on pole, led over 200 laps, and seemed poised for his first NASCAR Cup Series title. But with just three laps remaining, a caution derailed his lead, and he finished sixth.The Athletic's Jeff Gluck shared a post about the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver on X, writing:"Denny Hamlin will not commit to racing next season today. He needs more time to think about it."Jeff Gluck @jeff_gluckLINKDenny Hamlin will not commit to racing next season today. He needs more time to think about it. Will post the video of his complete comments shortly.Hamlin signed a multiyear extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in July this year, which keeps him committed until the end of 2027. He also made his loyalty to the team clear and shared that he would not leave them in a bad spot with no replacement driver. However, he had previously shared that he would quit NASCAR when he stopped winning races. Hamlin said, following his win at World Wide Technology Raceway:"I'm just not going to leave this sport on my deathbed just leaking oil, running in the back of the pack. I have way too much pride for that. I'm way too cocky for that. There's just no way. I want to be able to win my last race. To do that, I'm going to have to retire when I'm racing like this."Hamlin's situation has similarities with Carl Edwards, who twice fell short of the NASCAR Cup title in 2011 in a tie-breaker and in 2016, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. He announced his retirement from NASCAR despite his contract with the team and exited full-time competition in 2016.
