Denny Hamlin Secures His Future with Joe Gibbs Racing
The driver Denny Hamlin has signed a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, which could be his last deal as a driver. The announcement came after his 58th Cup victory, solidifying his position in the team. The agreement, for several years according to JGR officials, was finalized in two years, a timeframe with which Hamlin feels comfortable. “I wanted to make sure I gave them adequate time and committed to them not for one year, but for several, to allow them to continue building the program. I want to make sure I’m still in my best shape in my final year,” Hamlin stated. Currently, Hamlin leads the season with four victories and holds the top spot in points outside of the Hendrick Motorsports team, just behind Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Kyle Larson. A victory in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday would allow Hamlin to complete a significant achievement in his career.Hamlin, with 706 races under his belt, all with JGR, is the longest-tenured driver in the team’s history. He is currently ranked number 11 on the Cup wins list. In addition to his outstanding career as a driver, Hamlin is also co-owner of the NASCAR team 23XI Racing, along with NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. The team competes with Bubba Wallace, Riley Herbst, and Tyler Reddick. Hamlin also acknowledged that he is not yet ready to retire, and could even return to JGR in the future. Joe Gibbs expressed his gratitude towards Hamlin: “I really appreciate Denny and everything he has meant to our organization. It’s really special when you think about everything we’ve experienced in the last 20 years, from that first moment when J.D. Gibbs recognized his talent in a test session, until now. It’s remarkable in any sport to compete at the level that Denny has had for so long and we are delighted that he has been able to spend his entire career with us.” Hamlin’s decision was also based on his desire to assess his position in the future, considering the team’s competitiveness and his own motivation.Adding another jewel in the crown would be something big and then to have swept them all. The names are very prestigious on that list, so it would certainly mean a lot to me. It would just be another feather in the cap.
Denny Hamlin
