Challenges in the Life of Denny Hamlin in a Detailed Timeline

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Denny Hamlin. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Denny Hamlin is an accomplished American professional stock car racing driver currently competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, piloting the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. Beyond his driving career, Hamlin is a team owner, co-owning and operating 23XI Racing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan. This makes him a significant figure both on the track and in the business side of NASCAR.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1960: First Cup Series Winner Disqualified Since 1960

In 2022, Denny 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, when Emanuel Zervakis lost a victory due to an oversized fuel tank.

2005: Crashed at Pocono

In 2005, Denny Hamlin crashed at Pocono on Lap 15 after losing control of his car in the third turn, jeopardizing his chances of making the Chase for the first time in his career. He was later eliminated from the Chase at Michigan.

2010: 2010 Emory Healthcare 500 and Chase

During the 2010 season, Hamlin finished 43rd in the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta, dropping in the Chase standings. Despite the setback, he secured his spot in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup. He narrowly lost to Clint Bowyer in the first Chase race due to a driver error by Carl Edwards.

2010: ACL Tear

In 2010, Denny Hamlin tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while playing basketball but postponed surgery until after the season to focus on competing.

2011: Near Win at Budweiser Shootout

In 2011, Denny Hamlin nearly won the Budweiser Shootout, but Kurt Busch passed him after Hamlin crossed the yellow line, costing him the victory.

2013: Back Injury

In 2013, Denny Hamlin suffered a lower back injury due to a collision with Joey Logano, causing him to miss a significant part of the early season.

2013: Rough Start to 2013 Season

In 2013, Denny Hamlin's season started with crashes in the Sprint Unlimited and Budweiser Duel. He finished 14th at the Daytona 500. At Bristol, despite leading the most laps, he ran out of fuel. Controversy arose when Hamlin spun Joey Logano, leading to a heated exchange.

2013: Season outside Top Ten

In 2018, Denny Hamlin finished outside the top ten for the first time since 2013, when he missed four races due to injury.

December 31, 2014: Probation for No. 11 Team

On December 31, 2014, members of Denny Hamlin's No. 11 team were placed on probation until December 31, 2014 due to penalties resulting from a failed post-race inspection at the Brickyard 400. Crew chief Darian Grubb and car chief Wesley Sherrill faced suspensions, and Hamlin was docked 75 driver points.

2015: Daytona 500 and Atlanta Race

In 2015, Denny Hamlin started at the rear in the Budweiser Duels due to a penalty during Daytona 500 qualifying. He finished 4th in the Daytona 500 but finished 38th at Atlanta after a wreck.

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., the closest finish in Daytona 500 history. However, at Martinsville, Hamlin wrecked and finished 39th.

2017: Richmond Race Incident

In 2017 at Richmond, Denny Hamlin attempted to pass Martin Truex Jr. for second place on the final lap but slid his tires, causing him to collect Truex and send him into the outside wall. Hamlin finished fifth and apologized to Truex.

2017: Challenging Start to the Season

In 2017, Denny Hamlin had a challenging start to the season, finishing 17th in the Daytona 500 after a major crash and retiring from the race in Atlanta due to mechanical failures, resulting in a 38th-place classification.

2018: Playoff Elimination and Winless Season

In 2018, Denny Hamlin finished third at the Daytona 500 and made the playoffs but was eliminated in the Round of 16. He finished the season in 11th place and had his first winless season, ending a 12-season streak of winning at least one race.

2018: Elimination from Championship Contention

In 2018, Denny Hamlin was eliminated from championship contention after the Round of 8. A remarkable move by Chastain at Martinsville, riding the outside wall to overtake Hamlin for the final Championship 4 spot, pushed Hamlin out of the season finale contention for the first time since 2018. Hamlin finished the season fifth in the points standings.

2019: Darlington Xfinity and Cup Wins

In 2017 at Darlington, Denny Hamlin won both the Xfinity race and the Cup race, leading 124 of 367 laps in the Cup race. However, both wins were deemed "encumbered" due to an illegal rear suspension component, resulting in penalties.

2019: Torn Labrum, Kansas Win, and Championship 4

In 2019, Denny Hamlin announced he had a torn Glenoid labrum and would have surgery after the season. He won at Kansas, advanced to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014, and won at Phoenix, marking his second career victory at that track since 2012.

2019: Daytona 500 Victory and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

In 2019, Denny Hamlin won his second Daytona 500 and had victories at Texas, Pocono, and Bristol. He also suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning during the spring race at Dover. He advanced to the Round of 12 in the Playoffs.

2021: Playoff Berth and Criticism of Indianapolis Road Course

In 2021, Denny Hamlin secured a Playoff berth despite not winning any races during the Regular Season. He finished 23rd at the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard and criticized NASCAR's decision to use the road-course layout at Indianapolis.

May 3, 2022: Gabehart's Suspension

On May 3, 2022, Denny Hamlin's crew chief, Chris Gabehart, received a four-race suspension following a tire and wheel loss at Dover.

2022: Withdrawal from Xfinity Race

In 2022, Denny Hamlin had planned to participate in the Xfinity Series race but withdrew to recover from a crash in the previous week's Cup Series race at Daytona, ensuring he was ready for the Cup Series playoff opener the next day.

2022: Feud with Ross Chastain

In 2022, Denny Hamlin's season was marked by an ongoing feud with Ross Chastain. The rivalry began during the 2022 Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway, when Chastain bumped Hamlin, ending his race. Hamlin responded by slowing down in front of Chastain.

2023: Fine and Point Deduction for Intentional Wreck

In 2023, Hamlin was docked 25 points and fined $50,000 after admitting on his podcast Actions Detrimental that he had intentionally wrecked Ross Chastain during the closing laps of the Phoenix race.

2024: Win at Busch Light Clash, Daytona 500 Wreck, Bristol Win & Engine Violation

In 2024, Denny Hamlin started the season with a win at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. At the Daytona 500, he wrecked with William Byron and finished 19th. He secured his first pole of the season at Phoenix, but spun out late. He claimed his first win of the season at Bristol. The No. 11 team faced an L2 penalty following an engine inspection violation.