Denny Hamlin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denny Hamlin
Hamlin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025
Born	James Dennis Alan Hamlin (1980-11-18) November 18, 1980 (age 45) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	154 lb (70 kg)
Achievements	2016, 2019, 2020 Daytona 500 Winner 2010, 2017, 2021 Southern 500 Winner 2022 Coca-Cola 600 Winner 2015 Sprint All-Star Race 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) Tied 10th on NASCAR's All-Time Wins List
Awards	2006 Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
NASCAR Cup Series career
721 races run over 21 years
Car no., team	No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
2025 position	2nd
Best finish	2nd (2010, 2025)
First race	2005 Banquet 400 (Kansas)
Last race	2020 FanShield 500 (Phoenix)
First win	2006 Pocono 500 (Pocono)
Last win	2025 South Point 400 (Las Vegas)
Wins Top tens Poles 60 376 48
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 October 12, 2025.

Denny Hamlin, born on November 18, 1980, is an American professional stock car racer and a team owner. He drives the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He also co-owns a racing team called 23XI Racing with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Denny has won many races, with a total of 60 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series. Some of his biggest wins include the Daytona 500 three times (in 2016, 2019, and 2020). He is one of only five drivers to win the Daytona 500 two years in a row! He also won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2022 and the Southern 500 three times.

Even though he has not won a championship yet, many people consider Denny Hamlin one of the best drivers in NASCAR history. He has won more races than any other driver without a championship title. He has also made it to the NASCAR playoffs almost every year since 2006, showing how consistently good he is.

Denny Hamlin's Racing Journey

Early Racing Days

Denny Hamlin was born in Tampa, Florida, but grew up in Chesterfield Court House, Virginia. He started racing go-karts when he was just seven years old in 1988. By the time he was fifteen, he had already won a big go-kart championship!

At sixteen, Denny moved on to racing mini stock cars. He was so good that he won his very first stock car race at Langley Speedway. He then raced in other types of stock cars, winning many races. In 2003, he won an amazing 25 races out of 36! In 2004, Joe Gibbs Racing saw his talent and signed him to help him become a NASCAR star.

Starting in NASCAR (2004-2006)

Hamlin celebrating after winning the 2006 Pennsylvania 500

Denny began his NASCAR journey in 2004, racing in a few Truck Series and ARCA Series races. He even made his debut in the Busch Series (now called the Xfinity Series) that year.

In 2005, he raced full-time in the Busch Series, finishing fifth in the championship. He also got a chance to race in seven Nextel Cup Series (now Cup Series) races. He did so well that Joe Gibbs Racing chose him to drive the No. 11 car full-time starting in 2006.

His first full year in the Cup Series, 2006, was amazing! He won the Budweiser Shootout, a special race, and became the first rookie to do so. He also won his first two Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway. He was the first rookie in a long time to finish so high in the points, ending up third overall. Denny also won the Rookie of the Year award.

Continuing Success (2007-2008)

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

2008 Nationwide car

In 2007, Denny won his third Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He made it into the playoffs again, finishing twelfth in the standings. He also won three races in the Nationwide Series that year.

The 2008 season was also strong for Denny. He finished eighth in points and won a race at Martinsville Speedway. He showed incredible skill at Richmond Raceway, leading almost all the laps, but a flat tire kept him from winning. He also won four races in the Nationwide Series.

Four Wins in 2009

Hamlin racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2009

In 2009, Denny continued to drive the No. 11 car in the Cup Series. He won his fifth career Cup race at Pocono Raceway. He was so confident he would win that he said so before the final restart! This win was very special because it happened just after his grandmother passed away.

He also won at his home track in Richmond and then two more races at Martinsville and Homestead–Miami Speedway. He finished the year in fifth place overall with four wins.

Eight Wins and a Close Championship in 2010

Hamlin in victory lane after winning the 2010 Air Guard 400

The 2010 season was a big one for Denny. Many thought he could win the championship. Even though he had a knee injury from playing basketball, he decided to race and have surgery later.

He won a dramatic race at Martinsville, then had knee surgery just two days later. But he was back racing in only three weeks and won again at Texas Motor Speedway! He then swept both the Cup and Nationwide Series races at Darlington Raceway, a rare achievement. He won two more races at Pocono and Michigan International Speedway, bringing his total to five wins by mid-season.

Denny continued to win, taking victories at Richmond, Martinsville, and Texas. He led the points standings for a while, but in the final race, he finished fourteenth and ended up second in the championship to Jimmie Johnson. He had an amazing eight wins that year!

A Challenging 2011 Season

Hamlin at Pocono Raceway in 2011

The 2011 season started tough for Denny, but he turned things around. He won a race at Michigan, which helped him secure a spot in the playoffs. He finished ninth in the final standings. After the season, there was a change in his team, and a new crew chief was announced for 2012.

New Crew Chief and Five Wins in 2012

Hamlin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012

In 2012, Darian Grubb became Denny's new crew chief. This change brought great success! Denny won his first race of the year at Phoenix Raceway, then another at Kansas Speedway. He also won at Bristol Motor Speedway and then back-to-back races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

He finished the season with five wins and a strong sixth place in the championship standings.

First Championship 4 Appearance in 2014

Hamlin at Sonoma Raceway in 2014

Denny started 2014 by winning the Sprint Unlimited and a qualifying race for the Daytona 500. He finished second in the Daytona 500, just missing the win.

Later in the season, his car had a technical issue after a race, leading to a penalty for his team. At Bristol, he showed frustration after a crash with Kevin Harvick. Despite these challenges, Denny had a consistent playoff run and made it to the Championship 4, the final group of drivers competing for the title. He finished third in the championship that year.

Martinsville Win and Another Injury in 2015

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

Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 300

In 2015, Denny almost won the Daytona 500 again, finishing fourth. He then won his fifth race at Martinsville after a close battle. In May, he won the special All-Star Race for the first time.

He faced another knee injury from playing basketball and had surgery after the season. He made it to the playoffs and won the first race at Chicagoland Speedway. However, a crash and a car issue at Talladega Superspeedway meant he did not have enough points to move on in the playoffs.

First Daytona 500 Victory in 2016

Hamlin's 2016 Daytona 500 race-winning car

With a new crew chief, Mike Wheeler, Denny started 2016 by winning the Sprint Unlimited. Then, in the Daytona 500, he won by the closest margin in the race's history, beating Martin Truex Jr. by just 0.011 seconds! He led 95 laps in that exciting race.

He also won his first road course race at Watkins Glen International and secured another victory at Richmond. He finished sixth in the points standings that year.

A Winless Season in 2018

Hamlin battling Bubba Wallace for second at the 2018 Daytona 500

The 2018 season was unusual for Denny because he did not win any races. However, he was very consistent, with many top-five and top-ten finishes, which helped him qualify for the playoffs. He finished eleventh in the final points standings. This was his first season without a win since his rookie year.

Return to Winning and Second Daytona 500 in 2019

Hamlin before winning the 2019 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

Denny started 2019 with a bang, winning his second Daytona 500 after a 47-race winless streak. This win was special, and he dedicated it to J. D. Gibbs, a beloved member of Joe Gibbs Racing who had recently passed away. He went on to win five more races that year, including at Texas, Pocono, Bristol, Kansas, and Phoenix.

During a race at Dover Motor Speedway, he felt unwell from fumes in his car but recovered. After a race at Martinsville, there was a disagreement with Joey Logano after they made contact on the track. Denny made it to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014 and finished fourth in the final standings.

Third Daytona 500 and Championship 4 in 2020

Hamlin at Daytona in 2020

In 2020, Denny won his third Daytona 500, making him one of the few drivers to win it two years in a row. The victory was very close, but it was overshadowed by a serious accident involving another driver, Ryan Newman, at the finish line. Denny and his team owner later apologized for celebrating before knowing Newman's condition.

He had a fantastic year, winning seven races, including at Darlington, Homestead, Pocono, Kansas, and Talladega. He was a top contender all season and made it to the Championship 4 again, finishing fourth in the final standings.

Fourth Championship 4 Appearance in 2021

Hamlin's race-winning car during the Southern 500

In 2021, Denny qualified for the playoffs even without winning a regular season race. He then won the Southern 500 at Darlington for the third time, securing his spot in the next round of the playoffs. He also won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his first victory at that track.

During a playoff race at Martinsville, he had a heated moment with Alex Bowman after contact on the track. Despite this, Denny made it to the Championship 4 for the third year in a row, finishing third in the final standings with two wins and many top finishes.

Penalties and Playoff Run in 2023

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023

In 2023, Denny faced a penalty for an incident on the track during a race at Phoenix. However, he was also named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers, a huge honor. He won a thrilling race at Kansas and then his seventh career race at Pocono, which was his 50th Cup Series victory!

He won another playoff race at Bristol, setting a new record for the most wins by a driver without a championship. He finished fifth in the standings, just missing the Championship 4. He also returned to the Xfinity Series for one race and won at Darlington.

Three Wins and Playoff Exit in 2024

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024

Denny started 2024 by winning the Busch Light Clash. He then won his first points race of the season at Bristol. However, his car had a technical issue after the Bristol race, leading to a penalty for him and his team.

He also won at Richmond after a discussion about the restart rules and then took another victory at Dover. Despite these wins, he was eliminated in the Round of 8 of the playoffs, finishing eighth in the final standings. At the end of the year, his long-time sponsor, FedEx, announced they would not return in 2025.

Second Runner-Up Finish in 2025

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025

The 2025 season saw Denny leading the Daytona 500 on the final lap before a crash ended his chances. He then had a very close second-place finish at Phoenix. Progressive Insurance became a new sponsor for his No. 11 car.

Denny won at Martinsville, his first win there in ten years, and celebrated with a special "11 against the world" flag. He also won at Darlington and Michigan. He missed the Mexico City race for the birth of his son, but NASCAR allowed him to remain eligible for the playoffs. He earned a pole position at Pocono and won his fourth race of the season at Dover.

In the playoffs, Denny won at St. Louis. He was involved in an incident with his own team's driver, Bubba Wallace, at Kansas. However, he secured his spot in the Championship 4 with a win at Las Vegas, his 60th career victory. He qualified on pole for the final race at Phoenix and led many laps, but a late caution changed the outcome. He finished sixth in the race and second in the championship standings, a fantastic season!

Superstar Racing Experience

In 2023, Denny Hamlin competed in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series. He won the first event at Stafford Motor Speedway, which was shortened due to lightning.

Team Owner Career

23XI Racing with Michael Jordan

On September 21, 2020, Denny Hamlin and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who are good friends, announced they were starting a new NASCAR team called 23XI Racing. Bubba Wallace was chosen to drive the No. 23 car. On October 4, 2021, Bubba Wallace made history by winning his first Cup Series race at Talladega, becoming the first African-American driver to win a Cup race since 1963!

For the 2022 season, the team grew to have two cars. Kurt Busch, a 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, joined to drive the No. 45 car. On May 16, 2022, Kurt Busch brought 23XI Racing its second win at Kansas Speedway. Later that year, Bubba Wallace won another race at Kansas while driving the No. 45 car for Kurt Busch, who was recovering from an injury. This made Bubba the first African-American driver to win multiple Cup Series races.

In 2023, Tyler Reddick joined the team to drive the No. 45 car.

Denny Hamlin's Personal Life

Denny is the youngest son of Dennis and Mary Lou Clark. He was born in Tampa, Florida, and moved to Virginia when he was two years old.

Denny and Jordan Fish have two daughters and a son. They became engaged on January 1, 2024.

Denny is a big basketball fan and has season tickets for the Charlotte Hornets NBA team. He also enjoys playing basketball, though he has torn a knee ligament twice while playing.

Motorsports career results

Stock car career summary

^† As Hamlin was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series

Daytona 500

Xfinity Series

Camping World Truck Series

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Superstar Racing Experience

(key) * – Most laps led. ¹ – Heat 1 winner. ² – Heat 2 winner.

See also

In Spanish: Denny Hamlin para niños