Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Denny Hamlin is starting his season at the NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium under difficult circumstances, grappling with a re-torn shoulder and a demanding offseason. The spotlight is on Hamlin as he returns to competition at this iconic short track, eager to overcome personal and professional hurdles.
During media availability before practice on Wednesday, Hamlin voiced both determination and caution. He acknowledged the physical and mental toll of a turbulent few months, while underscoring his commitment to his team and the upcoming season. The Denny Hamlin NASCAR Bowman Gray appearance comes as both a test of resilience and an opportunity to reset his racing rhythm.
Adjusting to a Relentless Offseason and Renewed Injury
With limited time to rest after the previous season, Hamlin’s preseason was shaped by a series of personal and professional challenges. He revealed how little downtime he managed and the physical repercussions from his injury.
“I’m doing good. It’s hard to believe I’m going to be in the Clash in a couple of hours. I’ll have some rust. Didn’t get much of an offseason, obviously. No vacations, no fun stuff, anything like that. Just back on it now. I think getting back in a racing certainly will just put me back into a routine more like I’m used to.”
– Denny Hamlin
He described the offseason as a time of recalibrated priorities and shared that he spent minimal days at the race shop. Despite these obstacles, he remained focused on moving forward, although admitting he would have preferred more time for recovery and preparation.
“Everyday is a new challenge. Certainly priorities definitely shifted in the offseason, just doing non racing stuff. I’ve had a day at the race shop since Phoenix. It’s just going to take a little while to get back into the swing of things. I’ve been doing my work the last twenty something years and this is a kind of a good warm up to that. Certainly has not been an easy offseason by any means. I’m sure I’m in a different headspace than most of the competitors that have been rip roaring ready to go racing the last month or so. I’m probably in a different spot than that. I would appreciate a few more months, but I don’t have that but we’ll just kind of see how it goes. Got some unfortunate news that I re-tore my shoulder that I had from 2024. I’m going to go into the season the way I was before there. I don’t think that it ever healed properly, there were just some issues. Kind of a little after the season it was nagging me a bit and took a little fall at my mom’s house going through all the rubble and stuff. It didn’t feel right and got it scanned and they said it had re-tore again.”
– Denny Hamlin
Weighing Medical Decisions as Season Looms
Hamlin discussed the difficult choice regarding surgery on his shoulder, a decision that weighs heavily on his participation and ability to compete at his best throughout the year.
“I could, the option was just do it now and miss the first three or four months, or just tough it out and do it the first day of the offseason and that’s what I’ll do.”
– Denny Hamlin
Instead of opting for immediate surgery, Hamlin will race through the season and plan for medical intervention once the championship activities conclude. This approach will allow him to remain with his Joe Gibbs Racing team for the full duration of the campaign, even as the injury limits some of his usual physical activities away from the racetrack.
Family Updates and Off-Track Support Systems
Amid his own health difficulties, Hamlin provided an update on his mother’s ongoing recovery. Her situation and wellbeing have also been an important part of Hamlin’s offseason experience.
“She’s getting better. She’s actually down in Florida with some family this week. She’s definitely getting better physically and mentally certainly will take some time. She’s getting in a better place.”
– Denny Hamlin
Personal family matters, including his mother’s health and an incident at her house that led to agitation of his shoulder, have added a complex layer to Hamlin’s preparations for the new NASCAR season.
Hamlin’s Influence in NASCAR’s Playoff Reform
As one of the most experienced drivers in the Cup Series, Hamlin took an active role in discussions over recent changes to the playoff format, voicing his approval and optimism for NASCAR’s direction.
“I am. Seems like the bulk of the offseason was from what I could see, was NASCAR undoing some of the direction they had gone the last decade or so, which are all good things. I feel like the Chase is a very good compromise for all the stakeholders and I certainly feel like if anything, it’s a benefit for your top competitors who are the challengers week in and week out. It will reward them during the regular season and reward them in the playoffs giving them a little bit of a head start. Certainly more of a head start of what the Chase had back years ago. So while it is the old Chase, you actually have more motivation to perform well in the regular season because of the gap it will give you to start that 10 races a little more than previous. I do feel like it’s a really good balance of everything. Without a doubt there will be no question of the validity when we come down to the end and we see who is first. While it can come down to one last restart at the end of Homestead, it’s still going to be a body of work you put in over the first nine and-a-half races up to that point. I don’t think any one restart will define it even though it might determine who the champion might be, it’s still going to be the two or three most deserving guys when it comes down to that final race. I’m certainly happy to see where it ended up and I’m in full support of it.”
– Denny Hamlin
This reform aims to incentivize strong performance during the regular season, while ensuring that the playoff outcome reflects sustained excellence. The anticipated effect is a more balanced and competitive championship, rewarding the most deserving drivers over the course of the season and the playoffs.
Expectations for Teammates and Team Depth
Turning to intra-team matters, Hamlin set clear goals for Riley Herbst, emphasizing the importance of progression in performance across the Joe Gibbs Racing lineup. Notably, he underlined the standards expected from all drivers, including veterans like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace.
“We got to see better performance, for sure. Where the 35 was running last year was not up to what we expect. We signed a multiyear agreement with Riley because we want to see where it goes in the second year. I want to see gain in performance and needs to be challenging into the top-10 and top-15. That’s where we expect our cars to run. The more experienced guys in Tyler (Reddick) and Bubba (Wallace), they need to be competing for race wins more often as well.”
– Denny Hamlin
This public statement sets the tone for the young drivers and experienced hands alike, holding them to the high expectations synonymous with the Joe Gibbs Racing brand.
Managing Change After Chris Gabehart’s Departure
Hamlin addressed how Joe Gibbs Racing intends to move forward in the absence of Chris Gabehart, the influential competition director. The team will rely on organizational depth and the steady hand of Wally Brown.
“It’s a little different. I’m used to having Chris (Gabehart) there. But we also have the experience of Wally Brown that’s been in that role as competition director in many of the heyday years of JGR and their performance. I think he can step in there and do the role. He never left, he was always in those competition meetings so he can just kind of pick up that quarterback role. I think that he got to observe some things that Chris Gabehart did last year that he can refine. Even he admittedly said that I think that was a good direction and pick up from where he left off. So I’m confident that JGR can have so much depth within the race team that they can find a way to make it work.”
– Denny Hamlin
The team’s preparedness and adaptive leadership are expected to help fill any gaps created by the leadership transition.
NASCAR Schedule Adjustments and Track Philosophy
Major schedule updates are always a focal point in the NASCAR community. Hamlin reacted positively to Charlotte Motor’s move from the road course “Roval” back to a traditional oval track for the autumn race weekend, reflecting both personal preference and a broader alignment with the sport’s roots.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that it’s all positive from me on these types of changes. Bigger sample size, less road courses, given my history, so those are all positive for me. But beyond myself, we need to talk about the sport and the racing in the NextGen car, especially the mile and-a-half tracks, have been it’s strength. I was part of that battle with (Ross) Chastain and (William) Byron in the 600 and just a fantastic race that nobody could hold the lead. You get out in the lead and your car would handle terribly, but when you were in second, it was actually better. That racetrack is too good of track. If you have any track that’s going to have multiple races at the same venue, same track, Charlotte would be one that you would think would be at the top of the list. Good to see that come back. I think it’s going to be on the fans to make sure you show up and support that. I think the drivers for the most part are certainly supportive of the change back to the oval. It’s what we are, we are oval racing. I definitely appreciate the changes we made over the last few years in the road courses and the different venues like Charlotte or the Chicago Street Race, which I thought was a positive for our sport. We look like we’re heading back to more of our roots, which is a I think a good thing.”
– Denny Hamlin
Hamlin’s commentary highlights a general movement in NASCAR to embrace tradition, while acknowledging the value experimentation brought to fans and competitors in recent seasons.
Bowman Gray Short Track’s Significance for NASCAR
Hamlin reflected on the relevance of holding the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, citing both practical and emotional benefits for teams and fans alike.
“I can just tell you why it’s good for the teams. One, it’s a good warm up for them to get their race weekend routine going. It’s close to home, so there’s not a big haul travel wise for the race teams. For the drivers like myself, I don’t think I would like to barrel it off at Kansas right now into the turn 1 for the first laps of a new season. Short track is good for the drivers and is a good warm up. This is a racetrack that is embedded in the NASCAR roots with making the move here. We were doing the short track thing in LA and I thought that was very good event, it’s more feasible and economically viable for the teams to be here close to home on a very similar racetrack. You are also kind of giving back to the short track community up here in Winston.”
– Denny Hamlin
Hosting the Clash in Winston underscores NASCAR’s connection to its origins, providing practical benefits to teams and reinforcing the community aspect rooted in smaller venues. The Denny Hamlin NASCAR Bowman Gray return also serves as a homecoming, both geographically and in terms of racing culture.
Hamlin’s Physical Limitations and Focus on Longevity
The limitations imposed by Hamlin’s injured shoulder remain on his mind as he readies for a long championship pursuit. He expressed concerns about how the injury may affect his performance throughout the year, as well as the steps he’ll need to take to maintain his health.
“I don’t right now. If you can look into a crystal ball, as the year goes on it just kind depends on making sure I’m doing the things out of the car. Keeping the range good and keeping the strength good to kind of get to that November date where I can work on it and get it fixed again. It’s limiting the things I like to do and that’s not going to be a priority during the season, unfortunately. I’m going to miss out on a lot of the fun things, but I can’t do some things I like to do simply because that aggravates it and it causes the tear to get worse. It’s kind of hanging on currently, but still has a few parts and pieces hanging on that I need to keep intact for the full year.”
– Denny Hamlin
Despite these setbacks, Hamlin’s attention remains on giving his team the best possible chance at victory, placing collective success above his own comfort.
“I wish I could predict the future and tell you, but I just don’t know. I certainly give my team the preparation that they deserve as the leader of the team. There’s no way I could actually show up this week and face my team and not be prepared, so I’ve done as much as I can to be prepared given the amount of time that I got and given all the stuff I have going on. But they know once I get in that car, they never have questioned that I’m capable of going out there and competing and giving them their best opportunity to win. That’s ultimately my job is to get the result that the team that’s been preparing all offseason while I’ve been doing other things is give them a shot to reap the benefits and rewards of their hard work.”
– Denny Hamlin
Leadership Transitions and NASCAR Industry Relationships
Hamlin discussed broader changes within NASCAR’s leadership, including Steve O’Donnell’s new role. He stressed cautious optimism, pointing to a vision that aims to bring increased relevance and strength to the sport in the coming years.
“I don’t know too much of the ins and outs of it as far as how does the role change for O’Donnell as opposed to what it was before. We’ve only had one team owners council meeting. I overall, left there feeling the direction and vision they got for this upcoming season is good. I’m certainly a believer in the direction they are going. Ultimately, the results will be shown by our TV numbers and our people in the stands, if it resonates with them or not. Overall, I feel as though the sport got a good reset point at the end of last year and now we are going into this year the team owners are in a better position for the long term than where they’ve ever been before. So now it’s just a matter of can we get this sport back into prominent relevance in the sports market, and I think that’s their focus as well.”
– Denny Hamlin
He described the industry’s need for greater unity and collective progress, urging everyone to look for broader growth rather than focusing on narrow self-interests.
“Yeah, hopefully. That’s the goal. We all use it as a reset, we need to think more holistically and trying to make it better as opposed to maybe criticizing this and that. Holistically, are we heading in the right direction? One moment might not be exactly how we want it, but is it generally heading the right way. I think that’s the way we need to look at it. Like I said, I’ve looked at the inner strategy of NASCAR of what they put out to us to get back to where we were, and I think it’s the right strategy. This is not going to be something that we’re going to see right away, it’s something that could take time within the garage. The proof will be in the pudding that the sport and the teams have said they wanted to do for the last decade. While it is more collaborative or was more collaborative than it was in the 1990’s, it’s still nowhere nearly as collaborative as other sports are. When I talk to Curtis Polk and many others that have been in other sports and even other owners who have had interest in other sports, their ownership meetings are totally different. They are all figuring out, how are we going to create more revenue? Here’s what we are thinking about doing. Where us, we’re just so cutthroat on what’s best for our team and this team doesn’t like this splitter and this team doesn’t like this transaxle. It’s all dumb stuff that gets talked about that doesn’t push the sport forward. We have to talk about things that are going to grow the sport collectively and everyone has to get on that same page. Hopefully that starts January 1 of this year.”
– Denny Hamlin
Hamlin called attention to the importance of working together for the sport’s future, drawing comparisons to collaborative efforts in other major sports leagues.
Perspective Shift: Coping with Adversity and Building Character
Hamlin’s reflections on the past several months indicate a shift in perspective shaped by both public and private challenges. He spoke candidly about personal growth, resilience, and the unpredictable nature of motorsports and life itself.
“Yeah, I think certainly it’s different. The easy thing for me to say is poor me, but I still have a fantastic life, a great family. A lot of people go through tragedies. A lot of people go through what happened. What happened to me in the offseason was highly publicized, but there’s probably tons of stories that have happened to other crew members that happened this offseason and during the season that nobody knows about. Everyone has their times where they have to go through tough moments. I think those are building moments for your character and how your respond to it. This season for me could go one of two ways and I think not much of a middle road. It’s going really one way or really the other way. It’s up to me which was I decided to turn. Right now my focus is keeping this thing on the right track and spending these last couple of years accomplishing everything that I want to before my career is over.”
– Denny Hamlin
Through adversity, Hamlin aims to channel challenges into motivation, seeking to accomplish his remaining goals in NASCAR before the end of his storied career.
What Lies Ahead for Hamlin and the Sport
The upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is more than just the opening of a racing season for Denny Hamlin. It marks the beginning of a year characterized by grit, the navigation of injury, and a focus on fostering teamwork and competitive spirit. The Denny Hamlin NASCAR Bowman Gray campaign will unfold amid industry changes, evolving team dynamics, and the ongoing journey to take NASCAR to greater heights. Fans and colleagues will be watching to see how Hamlin’s resilience shapes his season and what legacy he carves in the closing chapters of his career.
