Top 10 NASCAR Title Chokes of All Time

Top 10 NASCAR Title Chokes of All Time

Denny Hamlin

10. Carl Edwards – 2011

Edwards entered the finale tied for the championship and ran clean all season, only to lose everything on a late restart crash at Homestead. One defensive mistake erased a near-perfect year.

9. Mark Martin – 1990

Martin lost the title by just 26 points after a penalty earlier in the season. While consistent all year, small mistakes under pressure ultimately cost him his best chance.

8. Jeff Gordon – 2007

Gordon dominated the regular season but faded badly in the Chase, failing to win when it mattered most as Jimmie Johnson surged past him.

7. Kyle Busch – 2008

Busch was untouchable early in the season, then completely unraveled in the Chase with crashes, penalties, and frustration, turning a runaway title into a collapse.

6. Denny Hamlin – 2010

Hamlin entered the finale with control of the championship but an aggressive strategy and mistakes at Homestead handed the title to Jimmie Johnson.

5. Kevin Harvick – 2020

Harvick’s season-long dominance meant nothing after a winless Round of 8. One bad stretch erased the best statistical season of the year.

4. Rusty Wallace – 1993

Wallace had momentum late in the season but couldn’t match Dale Earnhardt when pressure peaked, fading in the final races.

3. Martin Truex Jr. – 2021

Truex entered Phoenix as a favorite but never showed race-winning speed, quietly letting the title slip without a real fight.

2. Ryan Newman – 2014

Newman played defense perfectly all year, only to be passed late in the finale, losing the championship without ever winning a race.

1. Denny Hamlin – 2021

Hamlin arrived at Phoenix with momentum but delivered one of the flattest performances imaginable, finishing outside contention and cementing his reputation for title-weekend struggles.