Denny Hamlin's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Denny Hamlin. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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

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.

2002: Ten Late Model Victories

In 2002, Denny Hamlin achieved ten Late Model victories, showcasing his growing talent and success in stock car racing.

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: Second Career Victory at Phoenix since 2012

In 2019, Denny Hamlin won at Phoenix, achieving his second career victory at that track since 2012.

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.

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: 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: 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: 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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

2022: Coca-Cola 600 Victory

In 2022, Denny Hamlin won the Coca-Cola 600, adding to his list of significant NASCAR Cup Series victories.

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.

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.

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.