Denny Hamlin’s Cup Series legacy reached a new milestone with his recent 60th Cup victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a win that also solidified his place in this year’s Championship 4. As he heads for his fifth shot at a championship title at Phoenix Raceway, Hamlin’s career is celebrated for its perseverance, the deep support from Joe Gibbs Racing, and the pivotal moments that shaped his rise from a determined prospect to a NASCAR great.
The Path From Virginia Prodigy to Cup Contender
Hamlin embarks on his fifth season finale appearance at Phoenix Raceway, scheduled for November 2. Previous runs in 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021 have seen Hamlin finish twice in third place and twice in fourth in the championship standings, underscoring his relentless consistency at the sport’s highest level.
Reflecting on Hamlin’s determination, team owner Joe Gibbs explained,
“I just think for him, there won’t be a lot of talking about it because he knows everything’s at stake in this. This has been his life. This is all he’s wanted to do, is race cars… When J.D. found him racing late models, J.D. gets a lot of the credit because he put Denny in a test, he put him in a truck, he put him in Xfinity car. Finally, he said to me, ‘I think we need to sign this guy.’”
—Joe Gibbs, Owner
J.D. Gibbs’ belief in the relatively unknown Hamlin in the early 2000s was foundational for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin’s journey started with Grand Stock racing in 1998, progressing to Late Model Stock competitions, where he built his reputation on consistency and grit. By 2004, his skills earned him a development opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing.
That same year, while still competing full-time in Late Models, Hamlin posted a tenth-place finish in his Truck Series debut, a top-three performance in ARCA at Talladega, and a strong run in his Busch Series debut at Darlington. His advancement into the national scene was as swift as it was impressive, and by 2005, Hamlin was a full-time competitor in the Busch Series.
The turning point came when J.D. Gibbs, then the team president, promoted Hamlin to a full-time Cup Series seat in 2006, driving the FedEx No. 11 car in place of Jason Leffler. Looking back, Gibbs shared his surprise at how far Hamlin’s career would go:
“No, I did not. I got to be honest… Really, if you remember that year, we actually were struggling with the FedEx car. He only ran half a year in Xfinity, which is amazing. So we put him in there kind of as an experiment. I think the third race he sat on a pole, he was gone.”
—Joe Gibbs, Owner
This decision set Hamlin on a remarkable path, one that would include three Daytona 500 victories, four Playoff runs, and now, sixty career Cup wins—an achievement putting him among NASCAR’s elite at age forty-four. Yet, the pinnacle of the Denny Hamlin Cup Series legacy—the championship—remains just out of reach, providing the central challenge that drives him into each postseason finale.
The Emotional Legacy of the 2019 Daytona 500
Joe Gibbs, whose career boasts three Super Bowl titles from his NFL days and five Cup Series championships as a team owner, regards the events of the 2019 Daytona 500 as his most memorable moment in sports. This race, taking place just weeks after the passing of his son J.D. Gibbs, stands as a defining moment in both his life and the fabric of Joe Gibbs Racing.
“I think the race at Daytona after J.D. went to be with the Lord, it is for me the greatest sporting event I was ever in, for our family and everybody. I think God’s hand was on that race. So Denny’s a big part of that history with J.D. too.”
—Joe Gibbs, Owner
With the loss of J.D. Gibbs on January 11, 2019, the team’s co-founder and the principal force in bringing Hamlin to Joe Gibbs Racing, the Daytona 500 that year was emotionally charged. The race culminated with a dramatic overtime finish after several incidents, as Hamlin took the lead on a decisive restart, maintaining his advantage ahead of teammate Kyle Busch to secure his second Daytona 500 victory. Exiting his car, Hamlin dedicated the win to J.D. Gibbs, a tribute made even more poignant by the initials “J.D.” printed above his window net.
Hamlin repeated the Daytona 500 victory a year later, ensuring the memory of J.D. remained woven into the team’s story and his own Cup Series journey, highlighting the enduring connection within Joe Gibbs Racing and the legacy Hamlin carries on track.
A Career Defined by Determination and Team Bonds
The Denny Hamlin Cup Series legacy is not only marked by his victories and championship pursuits but also by the unwavering support from figures such as Joe Gibbs and the late J.D. Gibbs. Hamlin’s growth from a regional racer in Virginia to one of NASCAR’s most successful and consistent competitors is rooted in the opportunities and confidence placed in him by Joe Gibbs Racing.
As Hamlin prepares for another bid at the Cup championship in Phoenix, he represents not just experience and skill, but also the spirit of perseverance born out of pivotal relationships, shared loss, and resilience. His ongoing story, shaped by landmark moments on tracks from Darlington and Talladega to Daytona and Las Vegas, underlines the emotional intensity and high stakes that define elite motorsport and keep fans invested in every lap.
The next chapter in Hamlin’s run for the elusive championship stands as a testament to his enduring commitment and the powerful bonds that have built his legacy—one that continues to inspire NASCAR and racing enthusiasts everywhere.
