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, he has achieved significant success in his racing career. Beyond driving, Hamlin is also a team owner, co-owning and operating 23XI Racing with the legendary Michael Jordan, further solidifying his influence and involvement in the sport.
14 hours ago : Denny Hamlin on Baby Watch, Truex on Standby for Nashville Race.
Denny Hamlin is on baby watch, with Martin Truex Jr. as standby for the Nashville race. Potential absence due to son's birth raises questions about backup driver and points.
1960: Last Cup Series Winner Disqualified Before 2022
Before Denny Hamlin's disqualification at Pocono in 2022, the last time a NASCAR Cup Series winner had been disqualified was in 1960, when Emanuel Zervakis lost a victory due to an oversized fuel tank.
1963: Wendell Scott's Historic Win
In 1963, Wendell Scott became the last African-American driver to win a Cup race before Bubba Wallace's victory in 2021.
1966: James Hylton's Rookie Finish
In 1966, James Hylton had the best points finish for a rookie prior to Denny Hamlin's outstanding rookie season.
November 18, 1980: Denny Hamlin Born
On November 18, 1980, James Dennis Alan Hamlin, who would later become a professional stock car racing driver and team owner, was born.
1988: Started Racing Go-Karts
In 1988, at the age of 7, Denny Hamlin began his racing career in go-karts.
1993: Mark Martin Sweeps Darlington
In 1993, Mark Martin swept both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at Darlington, a feat matched by Denny Hamlin in 2010.
1993: Joe Gibbs Racing's First Daytona 500 Victory Since 1993
In 2016, Denny Hamlin's victory at the Daytona 500 marked team owner Joe Gibbs' first victory in the event since 1993.
1997: Won WKA Manufacturers Cup
In 1997, at the age of 15, Denny Hamlin won the WKA Manufacturers Cup.
1998: Started Racing Mini Stocks
In 1998, at the age of 16, Denny Hamlin began racing mini stocks and secured the pole position and a win in his first stock car race at Langley Speedway.
2000: Progressed to Late Model Stock Cars
In 2000, Denny Hamlin progressed to Late Model Stock Cars.
2000: Reference to Dominant Performance Since 2000
In 2008, Denny Hamlin had one of the most dominant performances by a driver since 2000 at Richmond, leading 381 out of 410 laps in the Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400, but ultimately finished 24th after cutting a tire.
2002: Achieved Ten Late Model Victories
In 2002, Denny Hamlin achieved ten Late Model victories.
2002: Jimmie Johnson Sweeps Dover Downs
In 2002, Jimmie Johnson swept both races at Dover Downs International Speedway in the same season, a feat matched by Hamlin later in his career.
2003: Achieved 25 Late Model Wins
In 2003, Denny Hamlin achieved 25 wins and 30 pole positions out of 36 races in Late Model Stock Cars.
2004: Competed in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series
In 2004, Denny Hamlin competed in five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with EJP Racing, achieving a tenth-place finish at IRP, made his first ARCA RE/MAX Series start at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing third in the No. 10 Pontiac for Fast Track Racing, and 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.
2004: Kurt Busch's NASCAR Cup Series Championship
In 2022, Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, joined 23XI Racing.
2005: First Appearance in a Chase Race
In 2005, Denny Hamlin crashed at Pocono on Lap 15, jeopardizing his chances for the Chase. Although he participated in seven races this year, his first appearance was during a Chase race. At Michigan, he was officially eliminated from the Chase.
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 and earning $1,064,110. 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 500
On June 11, 2006, Denny Hamlin earned his first Cup Series win at the Pocono 500, also achieving his second career pole.
2006: Remarkable Rookie Season
In 2006, Denny Hamlin had a particularly impressive rookie season, finishing third in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings, marking one of the most remarkable rookie campaigns in modern NASCAR history.
2006: Rookie Year Success
In 2006, Denny Hamlin had won both Pocono races during his rookie year, which was the start of a 12-season streak of winning at least one race.
2006: Named Full-Time Driver and Secures Top 10 Finishes
In 2006, Denny Hamlin was announced as the full-time driver for the No. 11 car and secured three Top 10 finishes and one pole position at Phoenix in his seven Cup starts.
2007: Third Career Cup Victory and Chase for the Cup
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 at New Hampshire, finished 43rd in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, and clinched a spot in the Chase for the Cup, ultimately finishing 12th overall.
2008: Eighth in Points and Martinsville Win
In 2008, Denny Hamlin finished eighth in points and won at Martinsville early in the season. He also led 381 out of 410 laps at Richmond but finished 24th after cutting a tire and won four races in the Nationwide Series.
August 3, 2009: Fifth Career Cup Win at Pocono
On August 3, 2009, Denny Hamlin secured his fifth career Cup win at Pocono, surging from sixth to first on the final restart after confidently declaring he would win the race. This victory was especially emotional, as it came just days after the passing of his grandmother, Thelma Clark.
October 25, 2009: Won TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway
On October 25, 2009, Denny Hamlin held off Jimmie Johnson to win the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
March 29, 2010: Won at Martinsville Speedway
On March 29, 2010, Denny Hamlin won the rain-postponed race at Martinsville Speedway, finishing ahead of Joey Logano and Jeff Gordon.
April 19, 2010: Returned to Racing After Knee Surgery and Won at Texas
On April 19, 2010, just three weeks after undergoing knee surgery, Denny Hamlin returned to racing at Texas, starting from 28th and securing his 10th career win, his second victory in three races.
2010: Finished 43rd in Atlanta and Qualified for the Chase
In 2010, Denny Hamlin finished 43rd in the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta, dropping five positions in the Chase standings to 10th overall, but still secured his spot in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
2010: Victory at Darlington and Pocono
In 2010, Denny Hamlin had a dominant weekend, winning both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events at Darlington Raceway, becoming the first driver to sweep both races at Darlington since Mark Martin in 1993, and later dominated the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target at Pocono Raceway, earning his 12th career win, his fourth of the season, and his fourth at Pocono. He also achieved a career-high with his fifth win of the season at Michigan.
2010: Tore ACL and Postponed Surgery
In 2010, Denny Hamlin tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while playing basketball on January 22 but postponed surgery until after the season. He announced on March 27 that he would undergo knee surgery the following Monday to prevent further damage.
2010: Won Southern 500
In 2010, Denny Hamlin's notable wins included the Southern 500.
2010: Prior Successes at Michigan
In 2011, Denny Hamlin headed to Michigan, where he had previously secured a 1st and 2nd place finish in 2010.
2010: Second Season with at least six wins in 2010
In 2019, Denny Hamlin achieved his sixth win of the year at Phoenix, marking the second season in his career with at least six wins, the first being in 2010 when he had eight.
2011: Grubb Guides Stewart to Sprint Cup Title
In 2011, Darian Grubb guided Tony Stewart to his third Sprint Cup title.
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 in turn four while attempting to overtake Ryan Newman, denying him the victory.
April 22, 2012: Second Victory at Kansas
On April 22, 2012, Denny Hamlin secured his second victory at Kansas, outlasting Martin Truex Jr.
2012: Mike Ford Replaced as Crew Chief
At the end of the 2011 season, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Mike Ford would not return as Denny Hamlin's crew chief for the 2012 season.
2012: Darian Grubb Replaces Mike Ford
In 2012, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Darian Grubb would replace Mike Ford as Denny Hamlin's crew chief. Grubb had previously served as Tony Stewart's crew chief.
2012: Second career victory at Phoenix since 2012
In 2019, Denny Hamlin achieved his sixth win of the year at Phoenix, his second career victory at that track since 2012.
2013: Collision and Injury
In 2013, Denny Hamlin suffered a collision with Joey Logano that severely damaged his lower back, sidelining him for a significant portion of the early season.
2013: Crashes and Controversy at Bristol
In 2013, Denny Hamlin's season began with crashes in the Sprint Unlimited and Budweiser Duel. At Bristol, he ran out of fuel and spun Joey Logano, leading to a heated exchange.
2013: Season Outside Top Ten Since 2013
The 2018 season marked Denny Hamlin's first time outside the top ten since 2013, when he missed four races due to injury.
2014: Sprint Unlimited and Budweiser Duel Wins, Daytona 500 Runner-Up
In 2014, Denny Hamlin started the season strong by winning the pole position and the Sprint Unlimited race, followed by a win in the second Budweiser Duel. In the Daytona 500, he finished second to Dale Earnhardt Jr. after leading 16 laps.
2014: Martinsville Victory
In 2014, at Martinsville, Denny Hamlin recovered from a penalty for an uncontrolled tire to win the race, edging out Brad Keselowski by 0.3 seconds. This marked his fifth victory at Martinsville, where he led 91 laps.
2014: First time in Championship 4 since 2014
In 2019, Denny Hamlin qualified for 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 this date as part of the penalties for failing post-race inspection at the Brickyard 400.
2015: Mixed Results at 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. However, at Atlanta, Hamlin finished 38th after a wreck. He rebounded with a 5th-place finish at Las Vegas but struggled at Phoenix, finishing 24th.
2016: Duel with Tony Stewart at Sonoma
In 2016, Denny Hamlin returned to Sonoma, the site of his duel with Tony Stewart, and delivered an impressive performance. He led 12 laps during Stage 2 but finished 4th overall due to tire grip issues 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: Won Daytona 500
In 2016, Denny Hamlin's notable wins included the Daytona 500.
2016: NASCAR Heat Evolution
In 2016, Denny Hamlin, alongside his Toyota teammates, recorded video clips demonstrating how to drive a lap at each of the NASCAR tracks featured in the 2016 circuit for the video game NASCAR Heat Evolution. He was also one of eight playable drivers in the EA Sports NASCAR Racing arcade game, notably the only rookie featured.
2016: Sprint Unlimited and Daytona 500 Victory
In 2016, Denny Hamlin, with new crew chief Mike Wheeler, won the Sprint Unlimited. He also won the Daytona 500, prevailing over Martin Truex Jr. by 0.011 seconds, the closest finish in Daytona 500 history. However, he wrecked at Martinsville and experienced further wrecks at Kansas and Dover.
2016: Second-closest finish surpassed the 2016 win.
In 2020, Hamlin won his third Daytona 500, edging out Ryan Blaney by just 0.014 seconds in overtime, marking 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, finishing 17th in the Daytona 500 after a major crash. Mechanical failures in Atlanta led to a 38th-place finish.
2017: Victory at New Hampshire
In 2017, Denny Hamlin started 8th in New Hampshire, finished 9th and 2nd in the stages, and led 52 laps to secure his 30th career NASCAR Cup Series victory. This win was Joe Gibbs Racing’s first of the season.
2017: Won Southern 500
In 2017, Denny Hamlin's notable wins included the Southern 500.
2017: Richmond Overtime Incident
In 2017, at Richmond, Denny Hamlin attempted to pass Martin Truex Jr. for second place in overtime but caused a collision, resulting in a fifth-place finish. He later apologized to Truex.
2017: New Hampshire and Southern 500 wins in 2017
In 2018, Denny Hamlin reflected on his victory at New Hampshire in July and his second Southern 500 win in 2017, noting that he failed to achieve any wins this year.
2018: Playoff Elimination and Winless Season
In 2018, Denny Hamlin finished third at the Daytona 500 but was eliminated in the Round of 16 of the playoffs. He finished the season 11th in points and had his first winless season since 2005, ending a 12-season streak of at least one victory per year.
2018: Eliminated from Championship Contention
In 2018, Denny Hamlin was eliminated from championship contention after the Round of 8. Chastain's remarkable move at Martinsville secured the final Championship 4 spot, preventing Hamlin from reaching the season finale for the first time since that year. He finished the season fifth in the points standings.
2019: Victories at Darlington
In 2017, at Darlington, Denny Hamlin dominated both the Xfinity and Cup races. He won the Xfinity race and led 124 laps in the Cup race, securing his second win of the season. However, both wins were deemed "encumbered" due to an illegal rear suspension component, leading to penalties.
2019: Glenoid Labrum Tear and Championship 4 Appearance
In 2019, Denny Hamlin announced he had a torn Glenoid labrum and would have surgery after the season. Despite the injury, he won at Kansas and Phoenix, advancing to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014.
2019: Daytona 500 Victory and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
In 2019, Denny Hamlin won his second Daytona 500, dedicating the win to J.D. Gibbs. He also won at Texas, Pocono, and Bristol. However, he suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during the spring race at Dover.
2019: Won Daytona 500
In 2019, Denny Hamlin's notable wins included the Daytona 500.
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 Win and Ryan Newman's Crash
In 2020, Denny Hamlin won his third Daytona 500, but the victory was overshadowed by Ryan Newman's crash at the finish line. Hamlin and Joe Gibbs later apologized for post-race burnouts due to the uncertainty surrounding Newman's condition.
2020: Won Daytona 500
In 2020, Denny Hamlin's notable wins included the Daytona 500.
2020: First Spring Race on Concrete Track Since 2020
In 2024, Denny Hamlin secured his first win of the season at Bristol, which marked the first spring race on the concrete track since 2020.
September 5, 2021: Southern 500 Win and Las Vegas Victory
On September 5, 2021, Denny Hamlin won the Southern 500 at Darlington, securing a spot in the Round of 12. He later won at Las Vegas, advancing to the Round of 8.
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: Appearance in Post Malone's "Motley Crew" 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 Despite Winless Regular Season
In 2021, Denny Hamlin secured a Playoff berth despite not winning any races during the Regular Season. He criticized NASCAR's decision to use the road-course layout at Indianapolis.
2021: Won Southern 500
In 2021, Denny Hamlin's notable wins included the Southern 500.
May 3, 2022: Gabehart's Suspension
On May 3, 2022, Gabehart received a four-race suspension following a tire and wheel loss at Dover.
May 16, 2022: Kurt Busch's Win at Kansas Speedway
On May 16, 2022, Kurt Busch delivered 23XI Racing's second win at Kansas Speedway, leading 116 of 267 laps.
July 12, 2022: Tyler Reddick to Join 23XI Racing in 2024
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 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. This ensured he was ready for the Cup Series playoff opener the next day.
2022: Won Coca-Cola 600
In 2022, Denny Hamlin's notable wins included the Coca-Cola 600.
2022: Feud with Ross Chastain
In 2022, Denny Hamlin's season was marked by an ongoing feud with Ross Chastain, beginning at the Enjoy Illinois 300 when Chastain bumped Hamlin into the wall. Hamlin retaliated, leading to NASCAR intervention.
2022: Sensitivity Training Requirement
In 2022, On April 26, Denny Hamlin was required by NASCAR to attend sensitivity training following a controversial tweet mocking Kyle Larson's block on Kurt Busch, which was deemed offensive. Hamlin apologized and deleted the tweet.
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. He later won the shortened event.
2023: Reddick Replaces Busch in 2023
Following Kurt Busch’s announcement on October 16 that he would step away from full-time racing in 2023, it was revealed that Tyler Reddick’s contract would be bought out by 23XI, and he would replace Busch for the 2023 season.
2023: Fined for Intentionally Wrecking Ross Chastain
In 2023, Denny Hamlin faced a 25-point deduction and a $50,000 fine after admitting on his podcast Actions Detrimental that he 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. The podcast features content from the latest Cup Series race, fan questions, and additional race insights.
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.
December 27, 2024: Expecting Third Child
On December 27, 2024, it was reported that Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish are expecting their 3rd child in June of 2025.
2024: Consistent Playoff Competitor
As of 2024, Denny Hamlin has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in every full-time season except for 2013, totaling 18 seasons.
2024: Win at Bristol and Engine Penalty
In 2024, Denny Hamlin started with a win at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. He then secured a win at Bristol, marking the first spring race on the concrete track since 2020. However, on August 22, the No. 11 team faced an L2 penalty following an engine inspection violation, resulting in a 75-point penalty and a $100,000 fine.
2024: Tyler Reddick to Join 23XI Racing in 2024
On July 12, 2022, 23XI Racing and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) announced that Tyler Reddick would join the team full-time in 2024.
2025: Expecting Third Child in June
In 2025, Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish are expecting their 3rd child in June.
2025: Daytona 500 Wreck, Sponsorship Deal, and Martinsville Win
In 2025, Denny Hamlin started the season leading the Daytona 500 before being wrecked, finishing 24th. Progressive Insurance signed a deal to sponsor the No. 11 car for 18 races. Hamlin won at Martinsville, his first win at the track in a decade, waving a flag that read "11 against the world".
2025: FedEx Sponsorship Ends and New Crew Chief Appointed
In 2025, FedEx will not return as the sponsor of the No. 11 car, ending a 20-year partnership with JGR. Chris Gabehart was promoted to competition director, and Chris Gayle was named the new crew chief for the No. 11 car.
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