Denny Hamlin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denny Hamlin
Hamlin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024
Born	James Dennis Alan Hamlin (1980-11-18) November 18, 1980 (age 44) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	154 lb (70 kg)
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
686 races run over 20 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	2024 Würth 400 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles 54 358 43
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 November 10, 2024.

Denny Hamlin (born November 18, 1980) is a famous American race car driver and team owner. He drives the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He also owns a racing team called 23XI Racing with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Denny has won 54 NASCAR Cup Series races! Some of his biggest wins include the Coca-Cola 600 (in 2022) and the Southern 500 (three times). He's also won the famous Daytona 500 three times (in 2016, 2019, and 2020). He's one of only four drivers to win the Daytona 500 two years in a row!

Even though he hasn't won a championship yet, Denny has won more races than any other driver without a championship. He's almost always in the playoffs, which are like the championship games for NASCAR. In 2006, as a rookie, he finished third in the standings. This was one of the best rookie seasons ever in NASCAR! Since 2023, Denny has a podcast called Actions Detrimental where he talks about racing.

Denny's Racing Journey

How it Started

Denny Hamlin was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia. He started racing go-karts when he was just 7 years old in 1988. By age 15, he won a big go-kart championship. At 16, he was racing mini stocks. In his very first stock car race, he won the top starting spot and the race! He then moved up to faster cars, winning 25 races in 2003. In 2004, Joe Gibbs Racing signed him to help him become a top driver.

NASCAR Career Highlights

First Steps in NASCAR (2004–2006)

Hamlin celebrating after winning the 2006 Pennsylvania 500

In 2004, Denny raced in five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races. He finished tenth in his first NASCAR race at Indianapolis. He also raced in the ARCA series, finishing third. His first Busch Series race was at Darlington, where he finished eighth.

In 2005, Denny raced full-time in the Busch Series. He finished fifth in points as a rookie. He also started racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 11 car for FedEx. He made seven starts and had three top-10 finishes.

In 2006, Denny raced full-time in both the Cup and Busch Series. He won the Budweiser Shootout, a special race for pole winners. He got his first Busch Series win in Mexico City. On June 11, 2006, Denny won his first Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. He won again at Pocono in July, becoming only the second rookie to win both races at the same track in one season. Denny won the Rookie of the Year award and finished third in the Cup standings. He was the first rookie to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup playoffs.

Steady Progress (2007–2008)

Hamlin practicing for the 2007 Ford 400

Denny's Nationwide car in 2008

In 2007, Denny won his third Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway. He made it into the Chase for the Cup again. In the Nationwide Series, he won three races.

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

Four Wins in 2009

Hamlin racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2009

Denny continued to drive the No. 11 car in 2009. He won his fifth Cup race at Pocono, ending a 50-race winless streak. This win was special because it happened after his grandmother passed away.

He also won at his home track in Richmond. In October, he won at Martinsville. He finished the year with a win at Homestead-Miami, starting from way back in 38th place. He ended 2009 with four wins and a fifth-place finish in the standings.

Eight Wins and Runner-Up in 2010

Hamlin in victory lane after winning the 2010 Air Guard 400

The 2010 season started with high hopes for Denny. However, he tore a ligament in his left knee playing basketball. He decided to race through the injury and had surgery later.

Despite his injury, Denny won the rain-delayed race at Martinsville in March. Just two days after his knee surgery, he returned to racing and won at Texas! Less than three weeks later, he won at Darlington, sweeping both the Cup and Nationwide races. He was the first driver to do this since 1993. He also won at Pocono and Michigan, bringing his total to five wins.

Denny made it into the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup. He won at Richmond and Martinsville again, closing the gap to points leader Jimmie Johnson. He then won at Texas, taking the points lead with two races left. In the final race, he finished 14th and ended up second in the championship, just behind Jimmie Johnson.

2011 Season

Hamlin at Pocono Raceway in 2011

In 2011, Denny almost won the Budweiser Shootout but was penalized for crossing the yellow line. He had a tough start to the season but improved at Richmond, finishing second.

He won at Michigan after a "magic adjustment" to his car. This win helped him secure a spot in the Chase for the Cup. At the end of the season, his crew chief, Mike Ford, was replaced by Darian Grubb.

New Crew Chief and Five Wins in 2012

Hamlin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012

With Darian Grubb as his new crew chief, Denny won his first race of 2012 at Phoenix. He won again at Kansas in April. He also won at Bristol and then had back-to-back wins at Atlanta. Two weeks later, he won at New Hampshire, starting from 32nd place. This was Joe Gibbs Racing's 100th Cup Series win!

First Championship 4 Appearance in 2014

Hamlin at Sonoma Raceway in 2014

Denny started 2014 strong by winning the Sprint Unlimited and a Budweiser Duel race. He finished second in the Daytona 500. At Auto Club, he had a sinus infection and was replaced by Sam Hornish Jr. for the race.

He won at Talladega when the caution flag came out on the last lap. After the Brickyard 400, his team faced penalties for a car inspection issue, but his Talladega win still secured his spot in the 2014 Chase.

At Bristol, Denny crashed after contact with Kevin Harvick. He was upset and threw his HANS device at Harvick's car. NASCAR did not penalize him for this. Denny made it to the Championship 4, the final group of drivers competing for the title. He was leading the final race but a late caution and a pit stop decision cost him the win. He finished third in the championship.

2015 Season

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

Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 300

Denny had a strong car in the 2015 Daytona 500, finishing fourth. He had some tough luck at Atlanta and California with wrecks and penalties.

At Martinsville, he overcame a penalty to win his fifth race at that track. He also won the Sprint All-Star Race, which was his first All-Star win and the first for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota.

He won the first playoff race at Chicagoland, which moved him into the next round. However, at Talladega, he was caught in a big crash and his car caught fire, ending his championship hopes.

First Daytona 500 Win in 2016

Hamlin's 2016 Daytona 500 race-winning car

With new crew chief Mike Wheeler, Denny won the Sprint Unlimited again. In the 2016 Daytona 500, he won by just 0.011 seconds over Martin Truex Jr., making it the closest finish in the race's history!

He won the Xfinity race during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend and finished fourth in the Cup race. He also won his first road course race at Watkins Glen. His third win of the season came at Richmond, where he started on pole. He finished sixth in points for the season.

Winless Season in 2018

Hamlin battling Bubba Wallace for second at the 2018 Daytona 500

Denny started 2018 with a third-place finish in the Daytona 500. He was consistent throughout the season, making the playoffs with seven top-five finishes. However, he didn't win any races, ending a 12-season winning streak. He finished 11th in the final standings.

Return to Championship 4 and Second Daytona 500 in 2019

Hamlin before winning the 2019 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

Denny broke a 47-race winless streak by winning his second Daytona 500 in 2019. This was his first win with new crew chief Chris Gabehart, and he dedicated it to the late J. D. Gibbs. He won again at Texas.

At Dover, he had to go to the care center because of carbon monoxide fumes in his car after a crash. Despite this, he won two more races at Pocono and Bristol. At Martinsville, he had a run-in with Joey Logano that led to a small argument after the race.

Denny revealed he had a torn shoulder muscle that would need surgery after the season. He still had a great playoff run, winning at Kansas and Phoenix. This put him in the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014. He finished fourth in the championship with six wins.

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

Hamlin at Daytona International Speedway in 2020

Denny won his third Daytona 500 in 2020, beating Ryan Blaney by a tiny margin. This was the second-closest finish in the race's history. The win was overshadowed by a serious crash involving Ryan Newman at the finish line. Denny and Joe Gibbs apologized for celebrating before knowing Newman's condition.

He won many races that year, including at Darlington, Homestead, Pocono, and Kansas. At Pocono, he passed Mark Martin for the most wins by a driver who hasn't won a championship. He also won at Talladega in a very close finish. He made it to the Championship 4 again and finished fourth in the standings.

Fourth Championship 4 Appearance in 2021

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

In 2021, Denny made the playoffs even without winning a regular season race. He then won the Southern 500 at Darlington for the third time, moving him to the next playoff round. Three weeks later, he won at Las Vegas, his first win at that track.

At Martinsville, he was leading with a few laps left when Alex Bowman spun him out. Bowman won the race, but Denny still made it to the Championship 4. After the race, Denny showed his frustration with Bowman. He finished third in the final standings with two wins and an impressive 25 top-ten finishes.

Rivalries and Wins in 2023

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023

In 2023, Denny was fined and lost points for admitting he intentionally crashed Ross Chastain in a race. In April, he was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers.

He won at Kansas after a close battle with Kyle Larson. This was Joe Gibbs Racing's 400th win! At Charlotte, Chase Elliott crashed Denny, which led to Elliott being suspended for one race.

On July 23, Denny won his second race of the season at Pocono, his seventh win there, breaking Jeff Gordon's record. This was also his 50th career Cup Series victory. He won at Bristol during the playoffs, which meant he had more wins than any other driver without a championship. He finished fifth in the standings with three wins.

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

2024 Season: More Wins and Changes

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024

Denny started 2024 by winning the Busch Light Clash. At the Daytona 500, he was caught in a crash. He won his first points race of the season at Bristol, but his team later faced a penalty for an engine issue.

Two weeks later, he won at Richmond in overtime. He also won at Dover. During practice at Martinsville, he crashed due to a stuck throttle. He finished fifth in that race but didn't get enough points to reach the Championship 4 for the third year in a row. He finished eighth in the points standings. At the end of the year, it was announced that FedEx would no longer be his car's sponsor after 20 years. His crew chief, Chris Gabehart, was promoted, and Chris Gayle will be his new crew chief in 2025.

Superstar Racing Experience

In 2023, Denny raced in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series. He won the first race at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Team Owner Career

Further information: 23XI Racing

On September 21, 2020, Denny Hamlin and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan started their own racing team called 23XI Racing. Bubba Wallace became their first driver, driving the No. 23 car. On October 4, 2021, Bubba Wallace made history by winning his first Cup Series race at Talladega. He was the first African-American driver to win a Cup race since 1963!

In 2022, the team added a second car, the No. 45, driven by Kurt Busch. Kurt Busch won the team's second race at Kansas Speedway. Later that year, Bubba Wallace won another race at Kansas, driving the No. 45 car while Kurt Busch was recovering from an injury. This made Bubba the first African-American driver to win multiple Cup Series races.

In 2022, 23XI Racing announced that Tyler Reddick would join the team in 2024. However, Kurt Busch decided to step away from full-time racing, so Reddick joined the team earlier, in 2023.

About Denny's Life

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

Denny and Jordan Fish have two daughters together. On January 1, 2024, Denny and Jordan Fish got engaged.

Denny has Ostraconophobia, which is the fear of shellfish.

Images for kids

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  Denny Hamlin's signature

See also

In Spanish: Denny Hamlin para niños