Denny Hamlin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2025

Born

James Dennis Alan Hamlin
November 18, 1980 (age 44)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.

Achievements

2024 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion (Owner)
2016, 2019, 2020 Daytona 500 Winner
2015 Sprint All-Star Race Winner
2010, 2017, 2021 Southern 500 Winner
2022 Coca-Cola 600 Winner
2008, 2014, 2017 Can-Am Duels Winner
2006, 2014, 2016, 2024 Busch Light Clash Winner
7 Wins at Pocono Raceway (Most all time)
4 Wins at Kansas Speedway (Most all time)
Winner of the 1st and 2nd closest Daytona 500s ever (2016-0.010s, 2020-0.014s)
Winner of the closest Xfinity Series finish at Michigan International Speedway (0.012s)
First rookie to qualify for Chase for the Nextel Cup (2006)

Awards

2006 Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year
Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)

NASCAR Cup Series career

704 races run over 21 years

Car no., team

No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing)

2024 position

8th

Best finish

2nd (2010)

First race

2005 Banquet 400 (Kansas)

Last race

2020 FanShield 500 (Phoenix)

First win

2006 Pocono 500 (Pocono)

Last win

2025 FireKeepers Casino 400 (Michigan)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
57	368	44

NASCAR Xfinity Series career

164 races run over 19 years

2023 position

77th

Best finish

4th (2006)

First race

2004 BI-LO 200 (Darlington)

Last race

2023 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (Darlington)

First win

2006 Telcel-Motorola 200 (Mexico City)

Last win

2023 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (Darlington)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
18	101	21

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career

16 races run over 9 years

2013 position

93rd

Best finish

37th (2004)

First race

2004 Power Stroke Diesel 200 (IRP)

Last race

2013 Kroger 200 (Martinsville)

First win

2011 Kroger 200 (Martinsville)

Last win

2012 Kroger 200 (Martinsville)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
2	10	1

Signature

Statistics current as of June 21, 2025.

James Dennis Alan Hamlin (born November 18, 1980) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, driving the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE. He also co-owns and runs 23XI Racing with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

As a driver, Hamlin has won 57 NASCAR Cup Series races. Some of his biggest wins include the Coca-Cola 600 in 2022, the Southern 500 three times (2010, 2017, 2021), and the Daytona 500 three times (2016, 2019, 2020). He is one of only four drivers to win the Daytona 500 in two years in a row.

Many consider Hamlin to be one of the best NASCAR drivers who has not yet won a championship. He holds the record for the most Cup Series wins without a championship title. He has been a strong competitor throughout his career. Hamlin has made it to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in almost every full season he has raced. In 2013, a crash caused a serious back injury, keeping him out of several races. His first full season in 2006 was very impressive. He finished third in the points standings, which was one of the best rookie performances in NASCAR history.

Denny Hamlin's Racing Journey
Owner Career
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Denny Hamlin's Racing Journey

Starting Out in Racing

Hamlin was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Chesterfield Court House, Virginia. He started racing go-karts when he was just 7 years old in 1988. By the time he was 15, he had already won a major go-kart championship. At 16, he began racing mini stocks. In his very first stock car race at Langley Speedway, he won from the pole position. Hamlin moved up to Grand Stock cars in 1998 and then to Late Model Stock Cars in 2000. In 2002, he won ten Late Model races. The next year, 2003, was even better with 25 wins and 30 pole positions out of 36 races. In 2004, while still racing Late Model Stock Cars, he signed a contract with Joe Gibbs Racing.

NASCAR Career Highlights

Early Years: 2004–2006

In 2004, Hamlin raced in five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. He finished tenth in his first race at IRP. He also made his first start in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, finishing third. His final race of 2004 was his first in the Busch Series at Darlington Raceway, where he finished eighth.

In 2005, Hamlin raced full-time in the Busch Series. He finished fifth in the championship points. He also made his first start in the Nextel Cup Series at Kansas Speedway. He was later announced as a full-time driver for the No. 11 car for the 2006 season. In his seven Cup starts that year, he had three top-10 finishes.

Hamlin celebrating after winning the 2006 Pocono 500

In 2006, Hamlin raced full-time in both the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the Busch Series. He won the 2006 Budweiser Shootout, a special race for pole winners. This made him the first rookie candidate to win that event. He got his first career Busch Series win in Mexico City. On June 11, 2006, he won his first Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. He won again at Pocono on July 23, becoming only the second rookie to win both races at the same track in one season. Hamlin won the Rookie of the Year award and finished third in the Cup standings. This was the highest finish for a rookie in modern NASCAR history. He was also the first rookie to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

2007–2008 Seasons

Hamlin practicing for the 2007 Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway

In 2007, Hamlin won his third career Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He made it into the Chase for the Cup but finished 12th overall. In the Nationwide Series, he won three races.

In 2008, Hamlin finished eighth in points. He won a Cup race early in the season at Martinsville Speedway. He also won four races in the Nationwide Series.

2009: Four Wins and a Strong Finish

Hamlin racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2009

In 2009, Hamlin continued to drive the No. 11 car. On August 3, he won his fifth career Cup race at Pocono Raceway. He had a 50-race winless streak before this victory. This win was very meaningful as it happened shortly after his grandmother passed away.

Hamlin also won at his home track, Richmond Raceway. He then won at Martinsville Speedway in October. He finished the 2009 season with a win at Homestead–Miami Speedway. He ended the year in fifth place overall with four wins, 15 top-5 finishes, and 20 top-10 finishes.

2010: Eight Wins and Runner-Up in Points

Hamlin in victory lane after winning the 2010 Air Guard 400

In 2010, Hamlin was expected to be a top contender for the championship. In January, he injured his left knee while playing basketball. He decided to postpone surgery until after the season.

On March 29, 2010, Hamlin won a rain-delayed race at Martinsville Speedway. Just two days later, he had knee surgery. Despite this, he returned to racing three weeks later and won his second race of the season at Texas Motor Speedway.

Less than three weeks later, Hamlin won his third race of 2010 at Darlington Raceway. He won both the Cup and Nationwide Series races that weekend, becoming the first driver to do so at Darlington since 1993. He then won his fourth race of the season at Pocono Raceway. The following week, he won his fifth race of the season at Michigan International Speedway.

Hamlin secured his spot in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup. He won his seventh race of the season at Martinsville Speedway, closing the points gap to the leader. He then won the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, taking the points lead with two races left. However, in the final race, he spun out and finished 14th, ending up second in the championship standings.

2011 Season

Hamlin at Pocono Raceway in 2011

In 2011, Hamlin had a tough start to the season. His first top-10 finish was seventh place at Las Vegas. He improved at Richmond, finishing second to his teammate Kyle Busch.

After some ups and downs, Hamlin won at Michigan International Speedway. This win helped him secure a spot in the Chase. At the end of the season, his team announced a new crew chief for 2012.

2012: New Crew Chief and Five Wins

Hamlin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012

In 2012, Darian Grubb became Hamlin's new crew chief. Grubb had helped Tony Stewart win a championship in 2011.

Hamlin won his first race of the year at Phoenix. On April 22, he won his second race at Kansas Speedway. He then won at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. A week later, he won back-to-back races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two weeks after that, he won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, starting from 32nd place.

2013: Missing the Playoffs and Rivalry with Joey Logano

Front/side view of Hamlin's car

Engine of Hamlin's Toyota

Hamlin's 2013 season started with crashes in special races before the Daytona 500. In the Daytona 500, he started 35th and finished 14th. At Bristol, he had a controversial moment when he spun his former teammate, Joey Logano, leading to a heated discussion after the race.

At Fontana, Hamlin started from the pole position. In the final laps, he battled Logano for the win. They made contact, and Hamlin crashed hard into a wall. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution. It was later announced that Hamlin had a serious back injury, which meant he had to miss several races. Other drivers filled in for him.

He returned to racing at Talladega Superspeedway, but only started the race before another driver took over. At Darlington Raceway, he finished second. At the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, he won the pole position and finished fourth.

Hamlin struggled in some races, which meant he would miss the playoffs for the first time in his career. At Daytona International Speedway, he was involved in another big crash where his car went airborne.

At Richmond, Logano sent Hamlin an apology text about their earlier incident, but Hamlin didn't reply. However, by the next season, their rivalry was over. Despite missing races and finishing 23rd in points, Hamlin won the final race of the season at Homestead.

2014: First Championship 4 Appearance

Hamlin at Sonoma Raceway in 2014

In 2014, Hamlin started strong by winning a special race called the Sprint Unlimited. He also won the second Budweiser Duels race. In the Daytona 500, he finished second.

At Fontana, Hamlin had to be replaced by another driver just before the race due to a sinus infection affecting his vision. It was later found that a piece of metal was in his eye. At Talladega Superspeedway, Hamlin won the race when a caution flag came out on the final lap.

At the Brickyard 400, Hamlin finished third, but his car failed a post-race inspection. His crew chief was suspended, and Hamlin lost points. At Bristol, Hamlin crashed after contact with Kevin Harvick. In frustration, Hamlin threw his head and neck safety device at Harvick's car. NASCAR decided not to penalize Hamlin.

Despite challenges, Hamlin made it to the Championship 4, the final round of the playoffs. He was leading the final race with 20 laps to go, but his crew chief decided not to get new tires, which cost him the win. He finished third in the championship standings.

2015 Season

Hamlin led with 11 laps remaining in the 2015 Daytona 500.

Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 300

In 2015, Hamlin started the Daytona 500 from the back due to a penalty but finished fourth. He had a tough race at Atlanta, finishing 38th after a crash. He bounced back with a fifth-place finish at Las Vegas.

At California, Hamlin had a fast car but a bad pit stop and a penalty for an uncontrolled tire hurt his chances. He finished 28th. At Martinsville Speedway, he won his fifth race at that track after a close battle.

In May, Hamlin won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, his first time winning that event. It was also the first All-Star win for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. Later in the year, he injured his left knee again while playing basketball and had surgery after the season.

Hamlin won the first playoff race at Chicagoland Speedway, securing his spot in the next round. However, at Talladega, his car had issues and was involved in a big crash, which eliminated him from the playoffs.

2016: First Daytona 500 Win

Hamlin's 2016 Daytona 500 race-winning car

In 2016, with a new crew chief, Mike Wheeler, Hamlin won the Sprint Unlimited. In the Daytona 500, he passed his teammate Matt Kenseth on the final lap. Hamlin won by just 0.011 seconds, the closest finish in Daytona 500 history.

He won the Xfinity Series race during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend and finished fourth in the Cup race. At Watkins Glen International, he won his first road course race. He secured a third win in the final regular season race at Richmond. However, his championship hopes ended when his engine failed at Charlotte, and he finished sixth in the points.

2017: Two Wins and a Rivalry with Chase Elliott

Hamlin at Richmond Raceway in 2017

In 2017, Hamlin had a challenging start with mechanical issues and crashes. He finished eighth in Stage 1 of the Daytona 500 but crashed in Stage 2. He bounced back with top-10 finishes at Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Hamlin's car improved, and he had strong performances at Bristol and Richmond. He won his first stage of the year at Talladega and his second at the Coca-Cola 600.

He secured his first win of the season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, his 30th career Cup Series victory. This was also Joe Gibbs Racing's first win of 2017. He continued with strong finishes at Pocono and Watkins Glen.

At Darlington Raceway, Hamlin won both the Xfinity and Cup races. However, his Cup win was later found to have an illegal part, and he lost points. This was his last Cup Series win until the 2019 Daytona 500.

In the playoffs, Hamlin started strong. At Martinsville Speedway, he bumped Chase Elliott, causing Elliott to spin. Many fans believed it was intentional. At Phoenix, Hamlin's hopes for the Championship 4 ended when he hit the wall after contact from Elliott.

2018: First Season Without a Win

Hamlin battling Bubba Wallace for second at the 2018 Daytona 500

In 2018, Denny Hamlin finished third at the Daytona 500. He didn't win any races during the regular season but made the playoffs due to his consistent top finishes. However, he was eliminated in the Round of 16. He finished 11th in the final points standings, marking his first season without a victory since his rookie year in 2006.

2019: Back to the Championship 4 and Second Daytona 500

Hamlin before winning the 2019 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

In 2019, Denny Hamlin ended a 47-race winless streak by winning his second Daytona 500. This was his first win with new crew chief Chris Gabehart. He dedicated the win to the late J.D. Gibbs. He also won at Texas, Pocono, and Bristol.

During the spring race at Dover, Hamlin had to go to the care center because fumes entered his car. At Martinsville Speedway, he had another incident with Joey Logano, leading to a brief argument.

Hamlin announced he had a shoulder injury that would require surgery after the season. Despite this, he performed well in the playoffs, winning at Kansas and Phoenix. He made it to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014. He finished fourth in the final standings with six wins.

2020: Third Championship 4 Appearance and Back-to-Back Daytona 500 Wins

Hamlin at Daytona in 2020

In 2020, Hamlin won his third Daytona 500, beating Ryan Blaney by a very small margin. This was the second-closest finish in the race's history. However, the win was overshadowed by a serious crash involving Ryan Newman at the finish line. Hamlin and his team owner later apologized for celebrating before knowing Newman's condition.

He won several other races that year, including at Darlington, Homestead, Pocono, and Kansas. He led the series with five victories. He also won at Talladega Superspeedway in a very close finish. He made it to the Championship 4 for the third year in a row, finishing fourth in the final standings.

2021: Fourth Championship 4 Appearance

Hamlin's race-winning car during the 2021 Cook Out Southern 500

In 2021, Hamlin made it to the playoffs even though he didn't win any races during the regular season. He won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway for the third time, securing his spot in the Round of 12. Three weeks later, he won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his first career win at that track.

At Martinsville Speedway, Hamlin was leading when Alex Bowman made contact with his car, causing him to spin. Bowman went on to win. After the race, Hamlin showed his frustration towards Bowman.

Despite the incident, Hamlin reached the Championship 4 for the third year in a row. He finished third in the final standings with two wins, 19 top-five finishes, and 25 top-ten finishes.

2022: Rivalry with Ross Chastain and Missing the Championship 4

Hamlin's No. 11 car at Sonoma Raceway in 2022

In 2022, Hamlin started the season with a tough finish at the Daytona 500. He won at Richmond but struggled in other early races. His crew chief was suspended for four races due to a loose wheel.

NASCAR required Hamlin to attend sensitivity training after he posted a controversial tweet. The tweet used a clip that made fun of another driver's racing move with a stereotype. Hamlin deleted the tweet and apologized.

Hamlin won his second Coca-Cola 600 race. He also had an ongoing rivalry with Ross Chastain. Their issues began at Gateway when Chastain bumped Hamlin, ending his race. Hamlin responded by slowing down in front of Chastain multiple times.

Hamlin won at Pocono, but he was later disqualified because his car had an unauthorized change. This was the first time a Cup Series winner had been disqualified since 1960. Hamlin was eliminated from championship contention after the Round of 8. At Martinsville, Chastain made a daring move by riding the wall to pass Hamlin, which kept Hamlin out of the Championship 4. Hamlin finished fifth in the points standings.

2023: Missing the Championship 4 Again and More Rivalries

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023

In 2023, Hamlin finished 17th at the Daytona 500. He was fined and lost points after admitting on his podcast that he intentionally wrecked Ross Chastain at Phoenix.

In April, Hamlin was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers. He won at Kansas after a close battle with Kyle Larson. This win was Joe Gibbs Racing's 400th career win. At Charlotte, Chase Elliott made contact with Hamlin, leading to Elliott's one-race suspension.

On July 23, Hamlin won his second race of the season at Pocono, his seventh win at that track. This was also his 50th career Cup Series victory.

During the playoffs, Hamlin won at Bristol, which helped him advance. This win also meant he had more wins than Junior Johnson among drivers who haven't won a championship. Hamlin finished fifth in the standings for the second year in a row, with three wins.

He also returned to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2023 and won at Darlington.

2024: Third Time Missing the Championship 4

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024

In 2024, Hamlin started the season with a win at the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. At the Daytona 500, he was involved in a crash. He won his first pole position of the season at Phoenix but spun out late in the race. The following week, he won at Bristol. However, his team later received a penalty for an engine rule violation, resulting in a points deduction and a fine for his crew chief.

Two weeks later, Hamlin won at Richmond in overtime. He then won at Dover. During practice at Martinsville, Hamlin crashed his car due to a stuck throttle. Despite repairs, he finished fifth in the race but didn't earn enough points to advance in the playoffs. This was his third year in a row missing the Championship 4. He finished eighth in the points standings. At the end of the year, his long-time sponsor, FedEx, announced they would not return in 2025. His crew chief, Chris Gabehart, was promoted, and Chris Gayle became his new crew chief.

2025: "11 Against the World"

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025

Hamlin started the 2025 season by leading the final lap of the Daytona 500 before crashing, finishing 24th. He then had the second-closest finish ever at Phoenix, coming in second to his teammate Christopher Bell. In March, Progressive Insurance became a new sponsor for his No. 11 car. Later that month, Hamlin won at Martinsville, his first win at that track in ten years. After his win, Hamlin waved a flag that said "11 against the world," a reference to a legal challenge involving NASCAR. During the season, he also won at Darlington and Michigan. On June 12, Hamlin announced he would miss the Mexico City race because his son was being born, ending his streak of 406 consecutive race starts. NASCAR allowed him to remain eligible for the playoffs despite missing the race. Hamlin earned his first pole of the season at Pocono.

Superstar Racing Experience

On February 1, 2023, it was announced that Hamlin would race in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) opener at Stafford Motor Speedway on July 13. He won the event, which was shortened due to lightning.

Owner Career

On September 21, 2020, Denny Hamlin and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who are long-time friends, announced they were starting a new NASCAR Cup Series team called 23XI Racing. Bubba Wallace would drive the No. 23 car. On October 4, 2021, Wallace won his first career Cup Series race at Talladega. This made him the first African-American driver to win a Cup race since 1963.

For the 2022 season, the team added a second car, the No. 45, driven by 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch. On May 16, 2022, Kurt Busch brought 23XI its second win at Kansas Speedway. Later that year, Wallace won the second Kansas race for the team while driving the No. 45 car. He became the first African-American driver to win multiple Cup Series races.

In July 2022, 23XI Racing announced that Tyler Reddick would join the team full-time in 2024. However, after Kurt Busch announced he would step away from full-time racing in 2023, Reddick joined 23XI a year earlier than planned.