History of Denny Hamlin in Timeline
Denny Hamlin is a prominent American stock car racing driver currently competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, driving the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE. Beyond his driving career, Hamlin is also a team owner, co-owning 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. His career is defined by success on the track and a foray into team ownership, solidifying his presence in the world of NASCAR.
1960: 1960: Last Cup Series Disqualification
In 2022, Hamlin won at Pocono but was disqualified after post-race inspections revealed an unauthorized modification to the car's front fascia. This marked the first time a NASCAR Cup Series winner had been disqualified since 1960.
1963: Last African-American Driver Win
On October 4, 2021, it was mentioned that Bubba Wallace secured his first career Cup Series victory at Talladega, marking the first African-American driver to win a Cup race since Wendell Scott in 1963.
1966: James Hylton Finish
In 1966, James Hylton had the best rookie finish since the modern era of NASCAR.
November 18, 1980: Birth of Denny Hamlin
On November 18, 1980, James Dennis Alan Hamlin, who would later become a prominent stock car racing driver and team owner, was born.
1988: Started Racing Go-Karts
In 1988, at the age of seven, Denny Hamlin began his racing career by racing go-karts.
1993: Mark Martin sweeps both races
In 1993, Mark Martin swept both races at Darlington.
1993: Joe Gibbs Racing's First Daytona 500 Victory Since 1993
In 2016, Denny Hamlin's Daytona 500 victory marked Joe Gibbs Racing's first win in the event since 1993.
1997: Won WKA Manufacturers Cup
By 1997, at the age of fifteen, Denny Hamlin had won the WKA Manufacturers Cup in go-kart racing.
1998: Started Racing Mini Stocks
In 1998, at the age of sixteen, Denny Hamlin began racing mini stocks and won his first stock car race at Langley Speedway, securing the pole position.
2000: Progressed to Late Model Stock Cars
In 2000, Denny Hamlin progressed to racing Late Model Stock Cars, advancing his racing career.
2000: Dominant performance
In 2000, drivers had some of the most dominant performances of the time.
2002: Ten Late Model Victories
In 2002, Denny Hamlin achieved ten Late Model victories, showcasing his talent in stock car racing.
2002: Jimmie Johnson sweeps Dover Downs
In 2002, Jimmie Johnson swept both races at Dover Downs International Speedway.
2003: 25 Late Model Wins
In 2003, Denny Hamlin had a successful year with 25 wins and thirty pole positions out of 36 races in Late Model Stock Cars.
2004: Kurt Busch's NASCAR Cup Series Championship
For the 2022 season, 23XI Racing expanded to a two-car operation with the addition of Kurt Busch, who was the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
2004: Competed in NASCAR and ARCA Series
In 2004, Denny Hamlin participated in five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with EJP Racing, achieving a tenth-place finish at IRP. He also made his first ARCA RE/MAX Series start at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing third in the No. 10 Pontiac for Fast Track Racing. He debuted in the Busch Series at Darlington Raceway, finishing eighth in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Performance Oil Chevrolet.
2004: Signed with Joe Gibbs Racing
In 2004, while competing full-time in Late Model Stock Cars, Denny Hamlin signed a driver development contract with Joe Gibbs Racing.
2005: First Chase Race
Although Denny Hamlin had participated in seven races in 2005, his first appearance was during a Chase race.
2005: Full Season in Busch Series and Cup Series Debut
In 2005, Denny Hamlin ran the full season in the Busch Series, finishing fifth in points and made his Nextel Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway driving the No. 11 FedEx-sponsored Chevrolet.
June 11, 2006: First Cup Series Win
On June 11, 2006, Denny Hamlin earned his first Cup Series win at the Pocono 500, also achieving his second career pole.
2006: Full-Time Cup Series Driver
In 2006, Denny Hamlin was announced as the full-time driver for the No. 11 car in the Nextel Cup Series, securing three top-ten finishes and one pole position at Phoenix.
2006: 2006 Rookie Season
In 2018, Denny Hamlin's winless season ended a twelve-season streak of winning at least one race, which dated back to his rookie year in 2006.
2006: Rookie of the Year
In his 2006 rookie season, Denny Hamlin finished third overall and won the Rookie of the Year award.
2007: 2007 Cup Season
In 2007, Denny Hamlin began the Cup season with a 28th-place finish in the Daytona 500, achieved his third career Cup victory at the Lenox Industrial Tools 300, finished 43rd in the Pepsi 400, clinched a spot in the Chase for the Cup, and finished twelfth overall. In the Nationwide Series, Hamlin achieved three victories driving the No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet and secured a victory at Milwaukee, with Almirola receiving credit for the win.
2008: 2008 Season Summary
In 2008, Denny Hamlin finished eighth in points, winning early in the season at Martinsville. He led 381 laps at Richmond but finished 24th. He also won four races in the Nationwide Series.
August 3, 2009: Pocono Win
On August 3, 2009, Denny Hamlin secured his fifth career Cup win at Pocono, surging from sixth to first on the final restart, breaking a fifty-race winless streak shortly after his grandmother's passing.
October 25, 2009: Martinsville Speedway Victory
On October 25, 2009, Denny Hamlin won the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, holding off Jimmie Johnson.
March 29, 2010: Martinsville Speedway Win
On March 29, 2010, Denny Hamlin won the rain-postponed race at Martinsville Speedway, finishing ahead of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano and Jeff Gordon, just two days before undergoing knee surgery.
April 19, 2010: Victory at Texas After Knee Surgery
On April 19, 2010, just three weeks after knee surgery, Denny Hamlin returned to racing, winning at Texas after starting from 28th and holding off Jimmie Johnson.
2010: Chase for the Sprint Cup
During the 2010 season, Denny Hamlin finished 43rd at Atlanta, dropping in the Chase standings. Despite this, he secured his spot in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup. In the first Chase race, an error caused Hamlin to spin, narrowly losing to Clint Bowyer.
2010: Multiple Wins in 2010
In 2010, Denny Hamlin had a successful season, visiting Victory Lane three times. On May 8, he won at Darlington Raceway, sweeping both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events, becoming the first driver to do so since Mark Martin in 1993. He also won the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target at Pocono Raceway and triumphed at Michigan.
2010: Previous Michigan Finishes
In 2010, Denny Hamlin had previously secured a first and second place finish at Michigan.
2010: Southern 500 Win
In 2010, Denny Hamlin secured a significant win at the Southern 500.
2010: ACL Tear
In 2010, Denny Hamlin tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while playing basketball on January 22, deciding to postpone surgery until after the season, but then announced on March 27 that he would undergo knee surgery the following Monday to prevent further damage.
2010: ACL Tear in Left Knee
In 2010, Denny Hamlin tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while playing basketball.
2010: 2010 Season: Multiple Wins
In 2019, Denny Hamlin secured his sixth win of the year at Phoenix. It also marked the second season in his career with at least six wins, the first being in 2010 when he had eight.
2011: Tony Stewart's Sprint Cup Title
In 2011, Darian Grubb guided Tony Stewart to his third Sprint Cup title.
2011: Budweiser Shootout near-win
In 2011, Denny Hamlin nearly won the Budweiser Shootout, but Kurt Busch passed him after Hamlin crossed the yellow line in turn four while attempting to overtake Ryan Newman, costing him the victory.
April 22, 2012: Victory at Kansas
On April 22, 2012, Denny Hamlin secured his second victory at Kansas, outlasting Martin Truex Jr.
2012: Crew Chief Change
At the end of the 2012 season, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Mike Ford would not return as Denny Hamlin's crew chief.
2012: Darian Grubb as Crew Chief
In 2012, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Darian Grubb would replace Mike Ford as Denny Hamlin's crew chief for the season.
2012: 2012: Phoenix Victory
In 2019, Denny Hamlin achieved his sixth win at Phoenix, his second career victory at that track since 2012.
2013: Playoff Miss
In 2013, Denny Hamlin missed the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs due to an injury sustained from a collision.
2013: 2013 Season Challenges
In 2013, Denny Hamlin's season started with crashes in the Sprint Unlimited and the Budweiser Duel, leading to a backup car for the Daytona 500. He finished third at Phoenix, fifteenth in Las Vegas, and ran out of fuel at Bristol. He also had a heated exchange with Joey Logano after spinning him.
2013: 2013 Season: Injury and Missed Races
In 2018, Denny Hamlin ended the season in eleventh place in the final point standings, marking his first time outside the top ten since 2013, when he missed four races due to injury.
2014: 2014 Martinsville Victory
In 2014 at Martinsville, Denny Hamlin overcame a penalty for an uncontrolled tire to win the race, edging out Brad Keselowski by 0.3 seconds after leading 91 laps.
2014: 2014 Season Start: Sprint Unlimited Victory and Daytona 500 Runner-Up
In 2014, Denny Hamlin won the Sprint Unlimited, leading all three segments, and also won the second Budweiser Duel. He started third in the Daytona 500, leading for sixteen laps, but finished second to Dale Earnhardt Jr., missing a potential sweep of Speedweeks events.
2014: 2014: Championship 4 Appearance
In 2019, Denny Hamlin advanced to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014.
2014: Start of Consecutive Race Streak
In 2025, it was noted that Denny Hamlin's 406 consecutive race start streak began in 2014.
December 31, 2014: No. 11 Team Placed on Probation
On December 31, 2014, members of the No. 11 team were placed on probation following penalties NASCAR imposed for failing a post-race inspection after the Brickyard 400.
2015: 2015 Season: Near Misses and Mixed Results
In 2015, Denny Hamlin started the season at the rear in the Budweiser Duels and finished 4th in the Daytona 500. He finished 38th in Atlanta after a wreck, 5th in Las Vegas, and 24th in Phoenix.
2015: ACL Tear in Right Knee
In 2015, Denny Hamlin tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee while playing basketball.
2016: Daytona 500 Win
In 2016, Denny Hamlin achieved a significant victory by winning the Daytona 500.
2016: 2016 Sonoma Race Performance
In 2016, Denny Hamlin put on an impressive performance at Sonoma, leading twelve laps during Stage 2 and staying in the top two for most of the race but finished 4th.
2016: Guest Analyst for Fox
In 2016, Denny Hamlin served as a guest analyst for Fox during the Xfinity Series race at Talladega.
2016: 2016: Daytona 500 Win and Martinsville Wreck
In 2016, Denny Hamlin won the Sprint Unlimited and the Daytona 500 by 0.011 seconds over Martin Truex Jr., marking the closest finish in the race's history. However, at Martinsville, he wrecked and finished 39th.
2017: Southern 500 Win
Denny Hamlin won the Southern 500 in 2017, adding to his list of achievements.
2017: 2017 Richmond Race: Overtime Incident
In 2017 at Richmond, Denny Hamlin attempted to pass Martin Truex Jr. for second place in overtime but caused a wreck, finishing fifth. Hamlin later apologized to Truex.
2017: 2017 New Hampshire Victory
In 2017, Denny Hamlin won at New Hampshire, marking his 30th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third Cup win at Loudon, and Joe Gibbs Racing's first victory of the 2017 season.
2017: 2017 Season Start: Challenges and Mechanical Failures
In 2017, Denny Hamlin's season began with an eighth-place finish in Stage 1 of the Daytona 500 but was involved in a major crash later in the race. He retired in Atlanta due to mechanical failures, finishing 38th.
2017: 2017 New Hampshire and Southern 500 Wins
In 2018, Denny Hamlin's winless season ended a twelve-season streak of winning at least one race, which dated back to his victory at New Hampshire in July and his second Southern 500 win in 2017.
2018: 2018 Season: Playoff Elimination and Winless Streak
In 2018, Denny Hamlin finished third at the Daytona 500 but was eliminated in the Round of 16, ending the season in eleventh place, marking his first winless season since 2005.
2018: 2018: Last Time Out of Season Finale Contention
In 2022, Chastain executed a remarkable move by riding the outside wall to overtake Hamlin for the final Championship 4 spot, pushing Hamlin out of the season finale contention for the first time since 2018. Hamlin finished the season fifth in the points standings.
2019: Daytona 500 Win
Denny Hamlin secured another Daytona 500 victory in 2019, adding to his list of achievements.
2019: 2019 Darlington Race: Xfinity and Cup Wins, Penalties
In 2017 at Darlington, Denny Hamlin won both the Xfinity and Cup races. However, both wins were deemed "encumbered" due to an illegal rear suspension component found during post-race inspection. Hamlin was docked 25 points, and his crew chief was suspended.
2019: 2019: Shoulder Injury, Playoff Success, and Championship 4
In 2019, Denny Hamlin announced a torn shoulder labrum but still secured his fifth win of the season at Kansas and advanced to the Championship 4. He achieved his sixth win at Phoenix, his second career victory at that track since 2012.
2019: 2019 Season: Daytona 500 Victory and Carbon Monoxide Incident
In 2019, Denny Hamlin won his second Daytona 500, dedicating the win to J.D. Gibbs, and had further victories at Texas, Pocono, and Bristol. He suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during the spring race at Dover.
2019: Tying the 2019 Season
In 2025, Denny Hamlin secured his 60th career win at Las Vegas, tying himself with his 2019 season.
September 21, 2020: Formation of 23XI Racing
On September 21, 2020, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan announced the formation of 23XI Racing, a single-car team for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season with Bubba Wallace as the driver.
2020: Daytona 500 Win
In 2020, Denny Hamlin achieved a notable victory by winning the Daytona 500.
2020: 2020: Daytona 500 Win and Ryan Newman Crash Controversy
In 2020, Denny Hamlin won his third Daytona 500, but the victory was overshadowed by Ryan Newman's severe crash and subsequent controversy over Hamlin's post-race celebration.
2020: Fourth Race Win Since 2020
In 2025, Denny Hamlin won his fourth race of the season at Dover, marking his most wins since 2020.
September 5, 2021: September 5, 2021: Southern 500 Victory and Playoff Advancement
On September 5, 2021, Denny Hamlin won the Southern 500 at Darlington for the third time in his career, securing a spot in the Round of 12 in the Playoffs.
October 4, 2021: Bubba Wallace's First Cup Series Victory
On October 4, 2021, Bubba Wallace secured his first career Cup Series victory at Talladega, marking the first African-American driver to win a Cup race since Wendell Scott in 1963.
2021: Southern 500 Win
Denny Hamlin won the Southern 500 in 2021, adding to his list of achievements.
2021: Appearance in Post Malone's Music Video
In 2021, Denny Hamlin made an appearance in the music video for Post Malone's song "Motley Crew" alongside Bubba Wallace.
2021: 2021: Playoff Berth and Road Course Criticism
In 2021, Denny Hamlin secured a Playoff berth without winning any races during the Regular Season. He criticized NASCAR's decision to use the road-course layout at Indianapolis.
May 3, 2022: May 3, 2022: Suspension of Crew Chief
On May 3, 2022, Denny Hamlin's crew chief, Gabehart, received a four-race suspension following a tire and wheel loss at Dover.
May 16, 2022: Kurt Busch Delivers 23XI's Second Win
On May 16, 2022, Kurt Busch delivered 23XI's second win at Kansas Speedway, leading 116 of 267 laps.
July 12, 2022: Tyler Reddick Joins 23XI Racing
On July 12, 2022, 23XI Racing and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) announced that Tyler Reddick would join the team full-time in 2024.
2022: Coca-Cola 600 Win
In 2022, Denny Hamlin achieved a notable victory by winning the Coca-Cola 600.
2022: 2022 Season: Coca-Cola 600 Win and Chastain Feud
In 2022, Denny Hamlin secured his second win at the Coca-Cola 600 but became known for his ongoing feud with Ross Chastain, which involved multiple incidents during races.
2022: NASCAR Rivals Cover Appearance
In 2022, Denny Hamlin was featured on the front cover of NASCAR Rivals, alongside his car.
2022: 2022: Daytona Crash and Playoff Preparation
In 2023, Denny Hamlin returned to the Xfinity Series after a two-year hiatus. He had planned to participate in the race in 2022 but withdrew to recover from a crash in the previous week's Cup Series race at Daytona.
February 1, 2023: SRX Series Announcement
On February 1, 2023, it was announced that Denny Hamlin would compete in the 2023 SRX Series opener at Stafford Motor Speedway on July 13.
2023: Reddick Replaces Busch for 2023 Season
Following Kurt Busch's announcement in October 2022 that he would step away from full-time racing in 2023, Tyler Reddick's contract was bought out by 23XI to replace Busch.
2023: 2023: Season Start and Chastain Wreck Admission
In 2023, Denny Hamlin began the season with a 17th-place finish at the Daytona 500. He was docked 25 points and fined $50,000 after admitting he intentionally wrecked Ross Chastain during the Phoenix race.
2023: Launch of 'Actions Detrimental' Podcast
In 2023, Denny Hamlin launched a weekly podcast with Dirty Mo Media called Actions Detrimental, which airs every Monday morning and features race content and fan questions.
2023: 2023: Xfinity Series Victory at Darlington
In 2023, Denny Hamlin returned to the Xfinity Series, driving Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 19 car to victory at Darlington.
January 1, 2024: Engagement to Jordan Fish
On January 1, 2024, Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish became engaged.
2024: Win at Busch Light Clash and Daytona 500 wreck
In 2024, Denny Hamlin started the season with a win at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, but at the Daytona 500, he was involved in a wreck with William Byron, finishing in nineteenth place. Hamlin also secured a pole position at Phoenix but spun out, later winning at Bristol.
2024: Reddick's Full-Time Start with 23XI
On July 12, 2022, it was announced that Tyler Reddick would join 23XI Racing full-time in 2024.
December 28, 2025: Death of Denny Hamlin's Father
On December 28, 2025, Denny Hamlin's father, Dennis Hamlin, died from injuries sustained in a house fire at the age of 75.
2025: Playoff Appearances
As of 2025, Denny Hamlin has reached 19 of the 20 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
2025: FedEx Sponsorship Ends, New Crew Chief Appointed
At the conclusion of 2025, it was announced that FedEx would not return as the sponsor of the No. 11 car, ending a 20-year partnership with JGR. Later, on November 22, 2025, JGR promoted Chris Gabehart to competition director, while Chris Gayle was named the new crew chief for the No. 11 car starting in 2025.
2025: 2025 Season Highlights: Wins, Sponsorship, and Controversy
In 2025, Denny Hamlin experienced a season filled with significant events. He started with a wreck at the Daytona 500. Progressive Insurance became the primary sponsor for 18 races. Hamlin won at Martinsville, referencing his involvement in an antitrust lawsuit. He secured additional wins at Darlington and Michigan. He missed the Mexico City race due to his son's birth. Hamlin won at St. Louis to advance to the Round of 12 and he earned a pole at Pocono. Controversy arose at Kansas after an incident with Bubba Wallace. Hamlin secured his 60th career win at Las Vegas, and ultimately finished 2nd in the Playoffs at Phoenix Raceway.
2026: Hamlin's First Daytona 500 Win as Owner
In 2026, Denny Hamlin achieved his first Daytona 500 win as an owner when Tyler Reddick won the race.
2026: 61st Career Win at Las Vegas
In 2026, Denny Hamlin secured his 61st career Cup Series win at Las Vegas, ranking him 10th on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners list.
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