Denny Hamlin’s journey toward the end of his NASCAR Cup Series driving career became much clearer after Joe Gibbs Racing announced a two-year contract extension on July 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, signaling that this new deal is probably his last at the top level. The news sets the stage for Hamlin, who has spent his entire Cup Series tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing, to make the Denny Hamlin final contract extension a central story in NASCAR’s near future as he contemplates retirement after more than two decades on the track.
Hamlin Announces His Likely Farewell Extension
The announcement of Hamlin’s contract extension came on a Friday, with Joe Gibbs Racing confirming that their veteran driver would be staying on for two more years, shorter than the customary three-year agreements the team has previously made. At a press conference in Indianapolis, Hamlin made it clear that, while nothing is certain, this final contract is likely to be his last behind the wheel at NASCAR’s highest level.
Now 44 years old, Hamlin enters this anticipated final chapter with an impressive tally of 58 Cup Series wins. Since his debut in 2004, Hamlin has demonstrated remarkable perseverance and consistency, amassing 706 career starts. His ability to remain competitive is compared by some to Kevin Harvick, who maintained a high level of performance up until age 46, in contrast to Jimmie Johnson, whose win count stalled after 41.
NASCAR’s lengthy and grueling seasons have contributed to the early retirement of both drivers and crew members. However, Hamlin’s enduring motivation seems rooted in both personal and professional factors.
“I would say it’s kind of a two fold thing,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
“Some of it is my self motivating, right? Goals I’d like to reach in the Cup Series.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
A vital part of Hamlin’s decision to continue racing is his strong relationship with team owner Joe Gibbs and his family, who trusted him with a spot on their roster decades ago after his humble beginnings as a Virginia short-track racer and former sandwich artist.
“JD (Gibbs) obviously believed in me quite a bit,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
Hamlin expressed a deep sense of loyalty to the Gibbs family, stating that after over two decades with the organization, he could not imagine driving for another team. His steadfast commitment has made him the longest-tenured and most successful Cup driver in Joe Gibbs Racing history. Age may be creeping up, but Hamlin’s edge on the track remains undimmed.
Winning and Motivation Still Drive Hamlin Forward
Hamlin continues to win at a high clip, as shown by his fourth victory of the current season at Dover Motor Speedway just last weekend. His ability to stay at the front of the pack has kept his motivation high, even after many years of competition.
“The ability to win week in, week out, that certainly is a high motivating factor in wanting to do this,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
“Certainly, I think about on a weekly basis, would I want to do this if I didn’t have the ability or couldn’t win as much? Probably … the motivation wouldn’t be there. But certainly, as competitive as I am, I’m motivated by being able to win.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
Physical concerns have also played a role in his longevity. While Hamlin suffered a serious back injury in a 2013 wreck at Auto Club Speedway, and has undergone surgeries for other issues, he reported recently that he is in a good place both physically and mentally.
“Kind of got my body in a good place,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
“My back is not bothering me as much as it was a few years ago. I’ve kind of gotten in a good place there. And so a lot of it is, can you physically hold up? Can you mentally hold up?”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
For Hamlin, racing still matters more than almost anything else in life.
“super high on the priority life list.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
He approaches every race with the same mindset he had during his rookie year, ensuring he maintains his focus and work ethic.
“I just I never wane from making sure that I’m doing my job, and to the best of my ability and work ethic will never change,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
His dedication has drawn praise from Joe Gibbs, particularly for the time he invests in simulator sessions to hone his skills.
A Role Model for Teammates and Competitors
New teammate Chase Briscoe quickly noticed Hamlin’s intense dedication to the sport, despite his many responsibilities and outside interests, including parenting three children and helping manage 23XI Racing.
“Just from the outside looking in, you expect that he has a ton of distractions, right?”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
“He’s literally there more than probably anybody, as far as sim work goes … when he would, I feel like, have every reason to kind of be able to get out of it, especially he’s been doing it for 20 years.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Briscoe was particularly impressed by Hamlin’s emphasis on data analytics and how it has influenced his own approach to racing.
“very, very eye opening, just how into the analytics and into the data (Hamlin) is. And that’s something that I’ve never really used in the past and I’m trying to start doing more this year just because I’ve seen that it makes a difference for him.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Hamlin’s competitive edge has not gone unnoticed by rivals either. 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney views Hamlin as a top talent in the sport, despite sometimes being undervalued by the broader NASCAR audience.
“one of the greats in the sport.”
—Ryan Blaney, Driver
“I feel like sometimes the outside world overlooks that, just how good Denny is, Blaney said. He’s one of the guys I watch pretty much every weekend in practice, comparing myself to speed wise, just because I know he’s going to be there at some point in the race.”
—Ryan Blaney, Driver
Why the Two-Year Deal and What Comes Next
When discussing the reasons behind the two-year length of his new contract, Hamlin said he simply is not interested in locking himself in for longer commitments at this stage of his career. He wants to give both himself and Joe Gibbs Racing the chance to adapt if his performance shifts with age.
“Who knows what can happen three years from now,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
Hamlin stressed that he is focusing on remaining at his best until the end of this term and does not want to outstay his prime.
“If I was 26, I would take 10 years, but I just I want to make sure that I’m still at my peak form in my final year. That could be tailing off for three years, so I don’t want that.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
He has no illusions about the challenges ahead. If his level of performance drops suddenly, he’s prepared to walk away before the contract is up, rather than risk an entire uncompetitive season.
“I want the ability to know I can win my last race,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
“I understand if it just happens naturally in the second half of the final year, then it just happens, but I don’t want to have to go through another season … if I’m starting to tail off the end of next year, I’ll just retire. I could retire whenever I want to retire, so I think that I’m just going to see how things go.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
The Road Ahead for a NASCAR Mainstay
With this extension, Hamlin stands to close out his career at Joe Gibbs Racing, cementing his place as one of NASCAR’s most consistent and dedicated competitors. The Denny Hamlin final contract extension cements his legacy as he tries to end his racing days on his own terms and at the top of his abilities.
Hamlin’s influence stretches beyond just his winning statistics—he has set a standard for commitment and preparation within the sport. Teammates like Chase Briscoe and rivals like Ryan Blaney recognize the depth of Hamlin’s impact on the next generation of drivers and the championship culture at Joe Gibbs Racing.
As the clock keeps ticking toward the conclusion of one of NASCAR’s storied driving careers, the sport will watch closely to see if Denny Hamlin can continue to add to his legacy in his final years while racing for the only organization he has ever called home.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How did Denny Hamlin get so rich?
A. Starting his full-time Cup Series career in 2006 with Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin has achieved an impressive 51 Cup Series wins.
He has also claimed victory in the Daytona 500 three times (2016, 2019, 2020) and earned significant financial rewards through his career.
Q. Did Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish get married?
A. Denny Hamlin is planning to marry Jordan Fish. They didn’t connect well at first, but during their second meeting in 2007, things improved, and they started dating. Despite a few challenges, they have stayed close ever since.
Q. How is Denny Hamlin so rich?
A. Denny Hamlin’s $65 million net worth comes from several sources. He has earned over $100 million from NASCAR through contracts and race winnings. Additionally, he has secured multi-million dollar endorsement deals with companies like FedEx, Jordan Brand, and Toyota. He also co-owns 23XI Racing, a team now worth more than $100 million.
