In a tightly contested attempt, Rajah Caruth, standout Truck Series driver and mentee of Bubba Wallace, was recently denied entry into Denny Hamlin’s famed Hoop Group basketball league during an exclusive tryout in North Carolina. The decision, coming from Hamlin himself, left the 22-year-old on the outside of this unique NASCAR tradition—a league that prizes camaraderie and character above sheer athletic prowess.
The tryouts echoed broader questions within the NASCAR community about accessibility, tradition, and the often personalized standards of membership in sports’ elite circles. Held just as Caruth began to gain attention for his racing achievements, the rejection illustrates the complicated intersections of talent, reputation, and insider culture that define Hamlin’s indoor basketball gatherings.
Inside Denny Hamlin’s Unconventional League: History and Values
Denny Hamlin’s off-track persona is closely tied to his love for basketball, an interest dating back to his early career days and fostered through his Charlotte connections. Unlike peers like Jimmie Johnson—known for grueling bike rides—or Jamie McMurray, an avid marathon runner, Hamlin prefers spending hours with a basketball in hand. His enduring fandom of the Charlotte Hornets introduced him to NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, sparking a friendship that would later extend into business with 23XI Racing and beyond.
This passion spurred the birth of his private Hoop Group, founded in 2016 at Sun Energy Arena in North Carolina. What began as friendly pick-up games among racing circles formalized into a structured five-team league—complete with uniforms, referees, and a championship trophy—to provide spirited competition away from the high-pressure world of motorsport. Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Rick Allen, and Michael Waltrip were among the notable regulars, meeting after NASCAR Cup Series events from March to June.
Yet, the league is as much about community and shared values as it is about basketball acumen. According to Hamlin, selection has little to do with extraordinary on-court ability. As he explained during a recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast,
He came here and did a little Hoop Group tryout… He brought his dad. I think his dad was a hooper at some point. But Rajah [Caruth] fit right in. He was just not good enough to be perfect for the league… He had all the intangibles and skill set that we were looking for. But the list was long, we just wanted to get our eye on him, make sure if we put him on the sub list.
—Denny Hamlin, Cup Series driver
The intangibles Hamlin mentions go well beyond basic basketball skills.
In our league, we’re not looking for great talent. We’re looking for solid people who bring something to the table, and hey, are you gonna have a beer with us after?… A good vibes guy is what we’re looking for.
—Denny Hamlin, Cup Series driver
Why Personality Can Outweigh Performance at Hamlin’s Tryouts
According to Hamlin, the character and attitude of players can make or break their chances, sometimes outweighing technical proficiency. The tryout process is shaped by the league’s social atmosphere and reluctance for over-competitive displays. While Caruth displayed strong potential during his audition—including impressive skills inherited from his father—the league’s priorities were clear.
Hamlin highlights the league’s distinct charm, saying,
If you come in and dunk, it’s over. Your tryouts are over… It would be no fun watching them play… It’s wildly entertaining because when someone goes for the game-winning layup, you just don’t know whether it’s going to go in or not.
—Denny Hamlin, Cup Series driver
By design, the Hoop Group cultivates unpredictability and relatability, shunning all-star level showmanship for a more inclusive, good-natured competition. Uniforms are donned, official referees are present, and a trophy awaits the winning team, but the focus stays on bonding and post-game camaraderie—qualities that sometimes elude even the most gifted athletes.
This approach raises the question: is the league simply exclusive, or does it set standards that reinforce what Hamlin and his circle value most in their off-track community?
Rajah Caruth’s Rising Trajectory Amid Rejection
Caruth’s story, while shaped by a setback in the Hoop Group tryouts, has been marked by significant success elsewhere. Fresh off a second career Truck Series victory at Nashville Superspeedway—where he secured a playoff spot after a thrilling race against Corey Heim—the Georgia native continues to earn respect for his progress behind the wheel and his personable approach off the track.
Even as Hamlin communicated his reasons for passing on Caruth, respect was mutual.
But he [Rajah Caruth] was fun. Loved playing with him. He’s a great kid, very inquisitive on how he can get better. Great to see that he’s getting success in the Trucks that he’s hoping to get.
—Denny Hamlin, Cup Series driver
For Caruth, being mentored by Bubba Wallace and auditioning for Hamlin’s curated league highlights both the opportunities and the challenges for up-and-coming drivers navigating NASCAR’s tight-knit circles. The positive feedback, combined with Caruth’s tenacity, leaves open the possibility that he may yet join the Hoop Group ranks in the future, as other drivers have done after initial exclusions.
The Social Fabric of Racing’s Basketball League
The Hoop Group’s significance within NASCAR’s culture cannot be overstated. For established names like Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon, and others, the league is a space to relax, compete, and occasionally continue track rivalries in a different setting. At times, personal and professional dramas have played out on the basketball court. Notably, after the notorious Daytona 500 collision in 2018 between Hamlin and Wallace, the Alabama-born Wallace paused participating in the league until the two buried the hatchet.
League participants gather on Monday nights after race weekends, venting stress and building friendships, while maintaining the competitive edge they carry on the track. Each session is as much about unwinding as it is about preserving the close bonds among drivers, crew, and related figures essential to NASCAR’s longevity as a sport and its evolving traditions.
Championship games are hard-fought, with bragging rights carrying considerable weight in conversations around the paddock and on social media. For younger drivers like Caruth, acceptance into this community can be a signal of full belonging in the NASCAR fraternity, highlighting why rejections are keenly felt and celebrated successes resonate across the grid.
Hamlin’s Deep Connections: The Influence of Basketball on Racing Relationships
Hamlin’s bond with basketball stretches far beyond casual interest. Over a decade, he maintained courtside season tickets with the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets, further strengthening his connections in both sports. His fiancé, Jordan Fish, a former Hornets cheerleader, shares this history, helping introduce Hamlin to future teammate and business partner Michael Jordan.
The story of their friendship began in the stands, as Hamlin recalled,
I was walking out at halftime. He stopped me and asked me about a race that happened a couple of weeks ago. I said, ‘Wow, you watch NASCAR? He said, ‘Yeah, take my number, we’ll get up and go to a race or something sometime.’ I remember him texting me for the whole second half. I was wondering, ‘What the heck is going on?’ I didn’t realize he was as big of a racing fan as he was.
—Denny Hamlin, Cup Series driver
Their rapport eventually saw NBA legend Jordan and his family fly to Florida for Hamlin’s 2014 Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami. The cross-pollination between basketball and racing further extended to friendships with LeBron James. In 2018, James honored Hamlin by donning basketball shoes made from the purple suede of one of Hamlin’s racing shoes during the NBA finals—an extraordinary show of mutual respect between two sports icons.
This merging of athletic worlds highlights how Hamlin’s basketball passion has helped him forge meaningful ties, shaping team ownership collaborations, building networks that span multiple sports, and mentoring the next generation of NASCAR talents, including Bubba Wallace and, indirectly, Rajah Caruth.
The Broader Impact: Tradition, Access, and the Next Generation
Caruth’s near-miss at the Bubba Wallace NASCAR Hoop Group basketball tryouts has sparked ongoing conversations about how NASCAR’s most revered off-track traditions are managed and who gains entry. The exclusivity of Hamlin’s league might seem arbitrary to outsiders, yet its influential role in reinforcing NASCAR’s communal spirit is undeniable.
Looking ahead, the club’s legacy depends on how it adapts to a changing landscape—balancing cherished bonds with openness to new personalities and talents. For drivers like Caruth, the setback represents not an end but a challenge to grow, both as competitors and as hopeful future participants in Hamlin’s storied basketball fraternity. Whether by invitation or by earning respect on the track and beyond, relationships within this inner circle continue to reflect NASCAR’s complex blend of rivalry, friendship, and ambition.
As the next NASCAR season draws young drivers closer to both the winner’s circle and—in rare cases—the hardwood floor of Denny Hamlin’s court, stories like Caruth’s add emotional intensity to the ever-evolving traditions that define America’s motorsport community.
