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 a prominent American professional stock car racing driver. He currently races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. In addition to his driving career, Hamlin co-owns and operates 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, marking his involvement in team management within the sport.

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 due to 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: Crash at Pocono

In 2005, Denny Hamlin crashed at Pocono on lap fifteen, losing control of his car in the third turn, jeopardizing his chances of making the Chase for the first time in his career. Despite participating in seven races, his first appearance was during a Chase race. He was officially eliminated from the Chase at Michigan due to being too far behind in the points, even if he won the next four races.

2010: ACL Tear and Season Expectations

In 2010, Denny Hamlin entered the season with high expectations but tore his ACL in January while playing basketball. He postponed surgery to focus on competing.

2013: Injury Sidelining after Collision

In 2013, Denny Hamlin suffered a lower back injury due to a collision with Joey Logano, which sidelined him for 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 the Budweiser Duel. He also had an incident with Joey Logano at Bristol, leading to controversy.

2013: Outside Top Ten Since 2013

In 2018, Denny Hamlin's eleventh place finish in point standings marked the first time he had finished outside the top ten since 2013, when he missed four races due to injury.

December 31, 2014: Probation for No. 11 Team

On December 31, 2014, members of the No. 11 team were placed on probation until December 31, 2014, following penalties incurred at the Brickyard 400, including the suspension of the crew chief and car chief.

2015: Mixed Results in Daytona, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Phoenix

In 2015, Denny Hamlin started at the rear of the field in the Budweiser Duels due to a penalty. He finished 4th in the Daytona 500. At Atlanta, he finished 38th after a wreck. He rebounded at Las Vegas, finishing 5th, but struggled at Phoenix, ending in 24th place.

2016: Sprint Unlimited and Daytona 500 Wins, Martinsville Wreck

In 2016, with new crew chief Mike Wheeler, Denny Hamlin won the Sprint Unlimited. At the Daytona 500, he passed Matt Kenseth for the lead on the final lap, edging out Martin Truex Jr. by 0.011 seconds. This was the closest finish in Daytona 500 history. At Martinsville, Hamlin wrecked after hitting the curb and slamming into the wall, finishing 39th. He also had wrecks at Kansas and Dover.

2017: Challenging Start to the Season

In 2017, Denny Hamlin had a challenging start to the season. He finished eighth in Stage 1 of the Daytona 500 but crashed at the end of Stage 2 due to a tire blowout on Kyle Busch's car, finishing seventeenth. In Atlanta, mechanical failures forced him to retire, resulting in a 38th place classification.

2018: Playoff Elimination and Winless Season

In 2018, Denny Hamlin finished third at the Daytona 500. He secured a playoff spot through consistency but was eliminated in the Round of 16. He finished eleventh in the point standings, his first time outside the top ten since 2013. It was his first winless season, ending a twelve-season streak dating back to 2006.

2018: Elimination from Championship Contention

In 2018, Denny Hamlin was eliminated from championship contention after the Round of 8. At Martinsville, Chastain's remarkable move pushed Hamlin out of the season finale contention. Hamlin finished the season fifth in the points standings.

2019: Torn Labrum and Championship 4 Appearance

In 2019, Denny Hamlin announced he had a torn Glenoid labrum. He secured his fifth win of the season at Kansas and advanced to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014, winning at Phoenix.

2019: Daytona 500 Win and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

In 2019, Denny Hamlin ended a 47-race winless streak with his second Daytona 500 victory, dedicating the win to J.D. Gibbs. He won at Texas, Pocono, and Bristol. During the spring race at Dover, he suffered carbon monoxide poisoning but remained consistent.

May 3, 2022: Crew Chief Suspension

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

2022: Withdrawal from Xfinity Series 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.