INDIANAPOLIS – Denny Hamlin, one of NASCAR’s most emblematic drivers, has secured his future in motorsports by extending his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. This agreement, which could be the last of his career, guarantees him two more years in the competition. Hamlin, 44, has expressed his desire to remain at JGR, the team with which he has built a successful career. The contract extension was announced after his recent victory, the 58th of his career.
The current Hamlin season has been outstanding, with four wins and leading the overall standings outside of the Hendrick Motorsports team. He is behind Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Kyle Larson. A victory in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway would allow Hamlin to complete a significant achievement in his career, by winning all the NASCAR “jewel” races. He has already triumphed in three Daytona 500s, three Southern 500s, and one Coca-Cola 600.Two years felt comfortable to me. I wanted to make sure I gave them the proper amount of time and committed to them for several years, so they can continue to build the program. I want to make sure I’m still at my best in my final year.
Denny Hamlin
With 706 races run, all with JGR, Hamlin is the driver with the most time on the team. His impressive record includes 11 Cup wins, 244 top-five finishes and 369 top-ten finishes, as well as 44 poles. In addition to his success on the track, Hamlin co-owns the NASCAR team 23XI Racing, along with Michael Jordan, which features drivers such as Bubba Wallace, Riley Herbst, and Tyler Reddick. Hamlin has acknowledged that he is not yet ready to retire and that he could consider a return to JGR in the future, depending on how he feels and the competitiveness of the team. Joe Gibbs, in a statement, expressed his appreciation for Hamlin and his impact on the organization. The driver has been a key piece on the team for two decades. Hamlin has also mentioned that he wants to evaluate his situation and that of the team in the next two years, including their level of competitiveness and his desire to continue competing.Adding another jewel would be important and then to have swept them all. Certainly, the names are very, 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
