History of Denny Hamlin in Timeline
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.
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.
1963: Historical Context: Wendell Scott's Victory
In 1963, Wendell Scott's victory set the stage for Bubba Wallace's win in 2021. Bubba Wallace secured his first career Cup Series victory at Talladega, making history as the first African-American driver to win a Cup race since Wendell Scott in 1963.
1966: James Hylton's High Points Finish
In 1966, James Hylton achieved the best points finish for a rookie since Denny Hamlin, highlighting the historical significance of Hamlin's achievement.
November 18, 1980: Birth of Denny Hamlin
On November 18, 1980, James Dennis Alan Hamlin, who would become a prominent American stock car racing driver and team owner, was born.
1988: Start of Racing Career
In 1988, at the age of seven, Denny Hamlin began his racing career, starting with go-karts.
1993: Mark Martin's Darlington Sweep
In 1993, Mark Martin became the first driver since Denny Hamlin in 2010 to sweep both races at Darlington.
1993: Joe Gibbs Racing's First Daytona 500 Victory Since 1993
In 2016, Denny Hamlin's Daytona 500 win marked the first victory in the event for team owner Joe Gibbs since 1993.
1997: WKA Manufacturers Cup Win
In 1997, at the age of fifteen, Denny Hamlin won the WKA Manufacturers Cup, marking an early achievement in his racing career.
1998: Progression to Grand Stock Division
In 1998, Denny Hamlin progressed to racing in the Grand Stock division, continuing his advancement in stock car racing.
2000: Move to Late Model Stock Cars
In 2000, Denny Hamlin moved on to racing Late Model Stock Cars, further developing his skills in stock car racing.
2000: Dominant performances
Since 2000 drivers have been putting up dominant performances. In 2008, at Richmond, Denny Hamlin led 381 out of 410 laps in the Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400.
2002: Ten Late Model Victories
In 2002, Denny Hamlin achieved ten Late Model victories, showcasing his growing talent and success in stock car racing.
2002: Jimmie Johnson's Rookie Sweep
In 2002, Jimmie Johnson was the first rookie in Nextel Cup history to sweep both races at a track in the same season, mirroring Hamlin's later achievement.
2003: Exceptional Late Model Season
In 2003, Denny Hamlin had a remarkable season in Late Model Stock Cars, securing 25 wins and 30 pole positions out of 36 races.
2004: Addition of Kurt Busch
For the 2022 season, the team expanded to a two-car operation with the addition of the No. 45, driven by 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch, who brought Monster Energy as a sponsor.
2004: Various Racing Series Starts
In 2004, Denny Hamlin competed in five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with EJP Racing, achieving a tenth-place finish in his debut at IRP. He made his first ARCA RE/MAX Series start at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing third in the No. 10 Pontiac. He also debuted in the Busch Series at Darlington Raceway, finishing eighth in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Performance Oil Chevrolet.
2004: Signing 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, marking a significant step in his NASCAR career.
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.
2005: Full Season in Busch Series and Nextel Cup Debut
In 2005, Denny Hamlin ran the full season in the Busch Series, finishing fifth in points. He also debuted in the Nextel Cup Series at Kansas Speedway driving the No. 11 FedEx-sponsored Chevrolet.
June 11, 2006: First Cup Series Win at Pocono
On June 11, 2006, Denny Hamlin achieved his first Cup Series win at the Pocono 500, also securing his second career pole.
2006: Remarkable Rookie Season
In 2006, Denny Hamlin had an impressive rookie season, finishing third in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings, one of the most remarkable rookie campaigns in modern NASCAR history.
2006: Full-Time Cup Driver Announcement
In 2006, Denny Hamlin was announced as the full-time driver for the No. 11 car, following Jason Leffler's release. He had three top-ten finishes and one pole position in seven Cup starts that year.
2006: Rookie Year Wins at Pocono
In 2018, Denny Hamlin's first winless season ended a twelve-season streak dating back to 2006, when he won both Pocono races during his rookie year.
2007: 2007 Racing Season
In 2007, Denny Hamlin started with a 28th-place finish in the Daytona 500, won the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire, and finished 43rd at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. He finished twelfth overall in the final standings and achieved three Nationwide Series victories.
2008: 2008 Season Overview
In 2008, Denny Hamlin finished eighth in points, winning early in the season at Martinsville. He also won four races in the Nationwide Series, driving for Gibbs and Braun Racing.
August 3, 2009: Fifth Career Cup Win at Pocono
On August 3, 2009, Denny Hamlin secured his fifth career Cup win at Pocono, breaking a fifty-race winless streak shortly after his grandmother's passing.
October 25, 2009: TUMS Fast Relief 500 Victory
On October 25, 2009, Denny Hamlin won the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, holding off Jimmie Johnson to secure the victory.
March 29, 2010: Martinsville Speedway Win
On March 29, 2010, Denny Hamlin won the rain-postponed race at Martinsville Speedway, finishing ahead of teammates Joey Logano and Jeff Gordon.
April 19, 2010: Victory at Texas after Knee Surgery
On April 19, 2010, just three weeks after knee surgery, Denny Hamlin secured his tenth career win at Texas, passing Jeff Burton and holding off Jimmie Johnson.
2010: Past Michigan Success
Denny Hamlin previously secured a first and second place finish in 2010, before heading to Michigan.
2010: Chase for the Sprint Cup
During the 2010 season, Hamlin finished 43rd in the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta, which impacted his Chase standings. He still managed to secure a spot in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
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.
2010: Southern 500 Victory
In 2010, Denny Hamlin secured a victory in the Southern 500, marking one of his notable achievements in the NASCAR Cup Series.
2010: Victories and Dominance in 2010
In 2010, Denny Hamlin visited Victory Lane for the third time, winning both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events at Darlington Raceway and also dominated the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target at Pocono Raceway.
2010: Second Season with at Least Six Wins since 2010
In 2019, Denny Hamlin's season marked the second season in his career with at least six wins, the first being in 2010 when he had eight.
2011: Grubb's Sprint Cup Title
In 2011, Darian Grubb guided Tony Stewart to his third Sprint Cup title, showcasing his expertise as a crew chief.
2011: Near Win in Budweiser Shootout
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.
April 22, 2012: Victory at Kansas
On April 22, 2012, Denny Hamlin secured his second victory of the year at Kansas, outlasting Martin Truex Jr.
2012: Crew Chief Change Announcement
At the end of the 2011 season, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Mike Ford would not return as Hamlin's crew chief for the 2012 season.
2012: Darian Grubb as New Crew Chief
In 2012, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Darian Grubb would replace Mike Ford as Hamlin's crew chief, after Grubb guided Tony Stewart to his Sprint Cup title.
2012: Second Career Victory at Phoenix since 2012
In 2019, Denny Hamlin won at Phoenix, achieving his second career victory at that track since 2012.
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.
2014: Began streak of races
Hamlin announced that he would miss the Mexico City race due to the birth of his son, ending his 406 consecutive race start streak that began in 2014
2014: Sprint Unlimited and Budweiser Duel Wins, Second Place at Daytona 500
In 2014, Denny Hamlin won the pole position and the Sprint Unlimited race, leading all three segments. He also won the second Budweiser Duel. At the Daytona 500, Hamlin started third, led for sixteen laps, but finished second to Dale Earnhardt Jr. after leading for sixteen laps.
2014: Victory at Martinsville
In 2014, at Martinsville, Denny Hamlin won after a strong restart, fending off Brad Keselowski by 0.3 seconds. Despite a penalty for an uncontrolled tire and a history of feuding with Keselowski, Hamlin secured his fifth victory at Martinsville, leading 91 laps and praising Keselowski for not wrecking him.
2014: Championship 4 Appearance Since 2014
In 2019, Denny Hamlin advanced to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014.
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: Sonoma Performance and Duel with Tony Stewart
In 2016, Denny Hamlin returned to Sonoma, the site of his memorable duel with Tony Stewart. He led twelve laps during Stage 2 and stayed in the top two for most of the race, but finished 4th overall after losing grip and positions late in the race.
2016: Guest Analyst for Fox
In 2016, Denny Hamlin served as a guest analyst for Fox during the Xfinity Series race at Talladega.
2016: Daytona 500 Victory
In 2016, Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500, marking a significant milestone in his NASCAR career.
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.
2016: Second-Closest Finish Behind 2016 Win
In 2020, Denny Hamlin's third Daytona 500 win marked the second-closest finish in the race's history, only surpassed by Hamlin's 2016 win.
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.
2017: Second Southern 500 Victory
In 2017, Denny Hamlin won the Southern 500 for the second time in his career, adding another significant victory to his achievements.
2017: Victory at New Hampshire
In 2017, after a strong top-five performance in Kentucky, Denny Hamlin won in New Hampshire. He started 8th, finished ninth and second in the stages, and led 52 laps, 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: 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 wall. Hamlin recovered to finish fifth and later apologized to Truex.
2017: New Hampshire and Southern 500 Wins
In 2018, Denny Hamlin's winless season ended a twelve-season streak dating back to his victory at New Hampshire in July and his second Southern 500 win in 2017.
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: Encumbered Wins at Darlington
In 2017, Denny Hamlin dominated both the Xfinity and Cup races at Darlington. In the Xfinity race, he outdueled Joey Logano. In the Cup race, he led 124 of 367 laps. However, both wins were deemed "encumbered" after an illegal rear suspension component was found. Hamlin was docked 25 points, and his crew chief was fined and suspended.
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.
2019: Second Daytona 500 Victory
In 2019, Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500 for the second time, adding another prestigious victory to his career.
2019: 6th Win in 2025
In 2025, Hamlin locked himself into the Championship 4 with a win at Las Vegas, securing his 60th career win, and 6th win of the 2025 season, 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.
2020: Third Daytona 500 Victory
In 2020, Denny Hamlin secured his third Daytona 500 victory, making him the fourth driver in history to win the race in back-to-back seasons.
2020: Third Daytona 500 Win and Ryan Newman's Crash Controversy
In 2020, Denny Hamlin won his third Daytona 500, edging out Ryan Blaney, marking the second-closest finish in the race's history. The victory was overshadowed by a crash involving Ryan Newman, leading to controversy over Hamlin's post-race celebrations. Hamlin later apologized, explaining he was unaware of Newman's condition.
2020: First Spring Race on Concrete Track Since 2020
In 2024, Denny Hamlin's first win of the season at Bristol marked the first spring race on the concrete track since 2020.
2020: Wins in 2025
In 2025, Hamlin won his fourth race of the season at Dover; his most since 2020.
September 5, 2021: Southern 500 Win and Spot in Round of 12
On September 5, 2021, Denny Hamlin won the Southern 500 at Darlington for the third time, 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, making history as the first African-American driver to win a Cup race since Wendell Scott in 1963.
2021: Third Southern 500 Victory
In 2021, Denny Hamlin achieved his third victory in the Southern 500, further solidifying his success in this prestigious race.
2021: Appearance in Post Malone's Music Video
In 2021, Denny Hamlin appeared in the music video for Post Malone's song "Motley Crew," alongside driver Bubba Wallace.
2021: Playoff Berth and Criticism of Road Course at Indianapolis
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 after being spun out. After the race, Hamlin criticized NASCAR's decision to use the road-course layout at Indianapolis.
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.
May 16, 2022: Kurt Busch's Victory at Kansas Speedway
On May 16, 2022, Kurt Busch delivered 23XI's second win at Kansas Speedway, leading 116 of 267 laps.
July 12, 2022: Announcement of Tyler Reddick Joining 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: Cover of NASCAR Rivals
In 2022, Denny Hamlin appeared on the front cover of NASCAR Rivals, alongside his car.
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.
2022: Feud with Ross Chastain
In 2022, Denny Hamlin secured his second win at the Coca-Cola 600 but became known for his feud with Ross Chastain, which began during the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway, resulting in multiple incidents during the race.
2022: Coca-Cola 600 Victory
In 2022, Denny Hamlin won the Coca-Cola 600, adding to his list of significant NASCAR Cup Series victories.
2022: Sensitivity Training Requirement After Controversial Tweet
In 2022, On April 26, NASCAR announced that Denny Hamlin would be required to attend sensitivity training following a controversial tweet. The tweet mocked Kyle Larson's block using a Family Guy clip and drew backlash for being offensive. Hamlin deleted the tweet and apologized.
February 1, 2023: Announcement of SRX Series Participation
On February 1, 2023, the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) announced that Denny Hamlin would compete in the 2023 SRX Series opener at Stafford Motor Speedway on July 13.
2023: Reddick Replacing Busch in 2023
Following Busch’s announcement on October 16 that he would step away from full-time racing in 2023, it was revealed that Reddick’s contract with Richard Childress Racing would be bought out by 23XI, and he would replace Busch for the 2023 season.
2023: Penalty for Intentionally Wrecking Ross Chastain
In 2023, Denny Hamlin began the season with a 17th-place finish at the Daytona 500. On March 15, 2023, he 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.
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. Hamlin hosts the show alongside Jared Allen. The podcast features content from the latest Cup Series race and fan questions.
2023: Xfinity Series Victory at Darlington
In 2023, Denny Hamlin returned to the Xfinity Series after a two-year hiatus, driving Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 19 car to victory at Darlington in September.
January 1, 2024: Engagement to Jordan Fish
On January 1, 2024, Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish became engaged.
2024: Continued Playoff Appearances
As of 2024, Denny Hamlin has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in every full-time season except for 2013, showcasing his consistent performance and competitiveness.
2024: Win at Bristol and Engine Inspection Violation
In 2024, Denny Hamlin kicked off the season with a win at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. At the Daytona 500, he got caught in a wreck with William Byron and finished nineteenth. Hamlin secured his first pole of the season at Phoenix, but spun out late. He then claimed his first win of the season at Bristol. However, on August 22, the No. 11 team faced an L2 penalty following an engine inspection violation.
2024: Reddick Joining 23XI Racing Full-Time
On July 12, 2022, 23XI Racing and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) announced that Tyler Reddick would join the team full-time in 2024.
2025: 2025 Season Highlights
In 2025, Denny Hamlin started the season leading on the final lap of the Daytona 500, finishing 24th after being wrecked. He finished second at Phoenix and signed Progressive Insurance as a sponsor for 18 races. Hamlin won at Martinsville, Darlington, Michigan, and Dover, securing his 60th career win at Las Vegas. He missed the Mexico City race due to his son's birth but received a playoff waiver. He won his fourth race of the season at Dover, his most since 2020.
2025: FedEx Departure and Crew Chief Changes
In 2025, it was announced that FedEx would not return as the sponsor of the No. 11 car, ending a 20-year partnership with JGR. 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.
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