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 44) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	154 lb (70 kg)
Achievements	3-time Daytona 500 Winner (2016, 2019, 2020) 3-time Southern 500 Winner (2010, 2017, 2021) 2022 Coca-Cola 600 Winner Sprint All-Star Race Winner 4-time Busch Light Clash Winner (2006, 2014, 2016, 2024) Most wins at Pocono Raceway (7 wins) Most wins at Kansas Speedway (4 wins) Won the two closest Daytona 500 races ever (2016, 2020) First rookie to qualify for the 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
718 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)
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)
Wins Top tens Poles 2 10 1
Signature
Statistics current as of October 12, 2025.

James Dennis Alan Hamlin (born November 18, 1980), known as Denny Hamlin, is a famous American 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. Denny also co-owns a racing team called 23XI Racing with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

As a driver, Denny Hamlin has won 60 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 five drivers to win the Daytona 500 in two years in a row.

Many people consider Hamlin to be one of the best NASCAR drivers who has not yet won a championship. Even without a championship title, he has made it to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs 17 out of 18 times. He first gained attention in his rookie year, 2006, when he finished third overall and was named Rookie of the Year.

Denny Hamlin's Racing Journey

Early Years in Racing

Denny Hamlin was born in Tampa, Florida, and 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 major go-kart championship.

At sixteen, Denny began racing mini stocks. In his very first stock car race at Langley Speedway, he not only started from the front (pole position) but also won the race! He continued to move up, racing in different stock car divisions and winning many races. In 2004, he signed a special contract with Joe Gibbs Racing to help him develop his skills.

NASCAR Career Highlights

Starting in NASCAR (2004–2006)

In 2004, Denny Hamlin began racing in some NASCAR series, including the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. He also made his debut in the Busch Series (now Xfinity Series).

Hamlin celebrating after winning the 2006 Pennsylvania 500

The year 2005 was big for Denny as he raced full-time in the Busch Series, finishing fifth in points. He also made his first starts in the top series, the Nextel Cup Series (now Cup Series). In 2006, he raced full-time in both the Cup and Busch Series. He won the Budweiser Shootout, becoming the first rookie candidate to win that event. Denny also earned his first Busch Series win and then his first two Cup Series wins, both at Pocono Raceway. He was named Rookie of the Year and finished an amazing third in the Cup standings, which was the best for a rookie in a long time. He was also the first rookie to make it into the playoffs.

Consistent Performance (2007–2008)

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

Denny continued to be a strong competitor in 2007. He won his third career Cup race at New Hampshire and made it into the playoffs again. He also had three wins in the Nationwide Series.

In 2008, Denny finished eighth in the Cup Series points. He won a race at Martinsville and showed incredible skill by leading most of the laps at Richmond, even though a tire issue kept him from winning that one. He also added four more wins in the Nationwide Series.

Four Wins in 2009

Hamlin racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2009

Denny Hamlin continued to drive the No. 11 car in the Cup Series in 2009. He won his fifth career Cup race at Pocono Raceway, breaking a long winless streak. 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 at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami. He finished the year with four wins and a strong fifth place in the overall standings.

Eight Wins and a Close Championship in 2010

Hamlin in victory lane after winning the 2010 Air Guard 400

The 2010 season was one of Denny's best. He started with high hopes, even though he had a knee injury from playing basketball. He decided to postpone surgery to focus on racing.

Despite his injury, Denny won the race at Martinsville in March. Just two days later, he had knee surgery. Amazingly, he was back racing only three weeks later and won again at Texas. He then swept both the Cup and Nationwide Series races at Darlington Raceway, a rare achievement. He continued to win, taking victories at Pocono and Michigan. By the end of the season, he had an incredible eight wins. He battled fiercely for the championship but finished second in points.

New Crew Chief and Five Wins in 2012

Hamlin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012

In 2012, Denny got a new crew chief, Darian Grubb, who had helped another driver win a championship. This change brought great success. Denny won his first race of the year at Phoenix and then added victories at Kansas and Bristol. He even won two races in a row at Atlanta and New Hampshire. He finished the season with five wins.

First Championship 4 Appearance in 2014

Hamlin at Sonoma Raceway in 2014

Denny started 2014 strong, winning the Sprint Unlimited and a qualifying race for the Daytona 500. He finished second in the Daytona 500 itself. During the season, he faced some challenges, including a sinus infection that kept him out of one race. His team also received a penalty for a car inspection issue.

At Bristol, he had a racing incident with another driver, Kevin Harvick, which led to a moment of frustration on the track. Despite these ups and downs, Denny had a very consistent playoff run. He made it to the final four drivers competing for the championship. In the final race, he led for a while but a late caution flag and a tough decision about tires meant he finished third in the championship standings.

All-Star Win and More Victories in 2015

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

In 2015, Denny Hamlin continued to show his winning form. He won his fifth race at Martinsville after a close battle. He also secured his first Sprint All-Star Race victory, which was also the first for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota.

Later that year, he had another knee injury from playing basketball and had surgery after the season. He won the first playoff race at Chicagoland Speedway, which guaranteed him a spot in the next round. However, a big crash and a car issue at Talladega meant he was eliminated from the playoffs.

Daytona 500 Champion in 2016

Hamlin's 2016 Daytona 500 race-winning car

The 2016 season was unforgettable for Denny Hamlin. He started by winning the Sprint Unlimited. Then, in the Daytona 500, he made history by winning the closest finish ever, beating Martin Truex Jr. by just 0.011 seconds! This was a huge win for him and his team owner, Joe Gibbs.

He also won an Xfinity Series race during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend. Later in the season, he earned his first road course win at Watkins Glen and secured another victory at Richmond. He finished sixth in the final points standings.

A Season Without a Win in 2018

Hamlin battling Bubba Wallace for second at the 2018 Daytona 500

The 2018 season was unusual for Denny Hamlin because he did not win any races. However, he was very consistent, earning many top-five and top-ten finishes. This consistency helped him qualify for the playoffs. He finished eleventh in the final points standings, which was his first time outside the top ten since 2013.

Back to Winning Ways in 2019

Hamlin before winning the 2019 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

Denny Hamlin made a strong comeback in 2019, ending a long winless streak by winning his second Daytona 500. He dedicated this emotional win to the late J.D. Gibbs, son of his team owner. He went on to win four more races that season, including at Texas, Pocono, and Bristol.

During the season, he felt unwell from fumes in his car during a race at Dover. He also had a racing incident with Joey Logano at Martinsville. Despite these challenges and a shoulder injury, he had a fantastic playoff run, winning two more races and making it to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014. He finished fourth in the championship standings with six wins.

Another Daytona 500 and Championship 4 in 2020

Hamlin at Daytona in 2020

In 2020, Denny Hamlin won his third Daytona 500, making it two wins in a row! It was another incredibly close finish. However, a serious accident involving Ryan Newman happened right at the finish line. Denny later apologized for celebrating before knowing everyone was okay.

He continued to dominate the season, winning at Darlington, Homestead, Pocono, Kansas, and Talladega. He led the series with seven victories and made it to the Championship 4 for the third time, finishing fourth in the final standings.

Fourth Championship 4 Appearance in 2021

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

Denny Hamlin qualified for the playoffs in 2021 even though he didn't win any races during the regular season. He was frustrated with the road course layout at Indianapolis.

He then found his winning stride in the playoffs, securing his third Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway. Three weeks later, he won at Las Vegas for the first time in his career. In a challenging race at Martinsville, he had a racing incident with Alex Bowman but still managed to advance to the Championship 4. He finished third in the final standings with two wins, 19 top-five finishes, and 25 top-ten finishes.

Wins and Penalties in 2023

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023

In 2023, Denny Hamlin was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers, a huge honor. He faced a penalty early in the season for a racing incident at Phoenix.

He went on to win at Kansas after a tough battle. At Charlotte, he was involved in an incident with Chase Elliott, which led to Elliott being suspended for one race. Denny then made history by winning his seventh race at Pocono Raceway, breaking a record and earning his 50th career Cup Series victory. He also won at Bristol in the playoffs. He finished fifth in the standings with three wins. He also returned to the Xfinity Series for one race, winning at Darlington.

More Wins and Challenges in 2024

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024

Denny Hamlin started 2024 with a win at the Busch Light Clash. He later won his first points race of the season at Bristol, a race known for its unique tire wear. However, his team later faced a penalty for a car inspection issue related to that win.

He also won at Richmond in an overtime finish, though there was some discussion about the restart. A month later, he won at Dover. During practice at Martinsville, he had a scary moment when his throttle stuck, causing him to hit the wall. He finished fifth in that race but was eliminated from the playoffs in the Round of 8, finishing eighth in the season standings.

The 2025 Season: "11 Against the World"

Hamlin's car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025

The 2025 season was a strong one for Denny Hamlin. He started the year with a tough finish at the Daytona 500, getting caught in a wreck on the final lap. He then had a very close second-place finish at Phoenix.

In March, he won at Martinsville, his first win there in ten years. After this win, he famously waved a flag that said "11 against the world," showing his competitive spirit and his team's determination, especially with a disagreement with NASCAR. He added more wins at Darlington and Michigan.

Denny missed the Mexico City race because his son was born, ending a long streak of consecutive starts. However, NASCAR allowed him to remain eligible for the playoffs. He earned a pole position and won at Dover, his fourth win of the season. In the playoffs, he won at St. Louis to advance. He was involved in racing incidents with teammates Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace at New Hampshire and Kansas.

Denny secured his spot in the Championship 4 with his sixth win of the season at Las Vegas. In the final race at Phoenix, he started from pole and led many laps. After a late caution, he restarted in tenth place and finished sixth, securing second place in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Superstar Racing Experience

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

Team Owner Career

23XI Racing

In 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. Their first driver was Bubba Wallace, who drove the No. 23 car. In 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.

The team grew in 2022, adding a second car, the No. 45, driven by former champion Kurt Busch. Kurt Busch brought the team its second win at Kansas Speedway. Later that year, Bubba Wallace won another race for the team at Kansas, making him the first African-American driver to win multiple Cup Series races. The team continues to be a strong competitor in NASCAR.

Personal Life

Denny Hamlin is the youngest son of Dennis Hamlin and Mary Lou Clark. He moved to Virginia when he was two years old.

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

Denny is a big basketball fan and enjoys playing the sport. He has even had knee injuries from playing basketball. He also has season tickets to watch the Charlotte Hornets NBA team.

See also

In Spanish: Denny Hamlin para niños