With the 2026 season-opening Daytona 500 being less than two weeks away, Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin dropped an update on his shoulder. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver aggravated a pre-existing injury while going through his parents’ belongings at their North Carolina home, and the worst part is that there is no time for surgery or even recovery.
Last off-season was a rough patch for Denny Hamlin. He closely missed winning the elusive Cup Series title, and eight weeks later, lost his father to a house fire on December 28, 2025. Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou, was also injured by the flames.
That being said, Hamlin has decided to fight through the pain rather than submit to it. During Wednesday’s media session at Bowman Gray, the driver said:
“So I’m gonna have to go the rest of the season the way I was before there. I don’t think that it ever healed properly. Just noticed some issues, really kind of right after the season. It just was nagging me a little bit.”
“Took a little fall at my mom’s house, going through all the rubble and stuff and just didn’t feel right,” Hamlin continued as he explained his fall. “Got it re-scanned and re-tore it again.”
“If you can look into a crystal ball, I would think as the year goes on, it just kind of depends on making sure I’m doing the things out of the car, working, keeping the range good, keeping the strength good to kind of get to that November date where I can work on it and get it fixed again.”
Denny Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 winner. This year marks the 68th running of the annual season-opening race. Hamlin has won other crown jewel events too, but thanks to his latest Daytona 500 victory, the Tampa native is part of a unique NASCAR record.
By winning the 2020 Daytona 500, Denny Hamlin became one of five drivers in Cup history to win the race in back-to-back seasons. The other four drivers on the list are Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin, and William Byron.
Denny Hamlin drops an update on his mother’s injuries following North Carolina house fire
Denny Hamlin shared an update on his mother’s health after she was critically injured by the fire that ravaged her North Carolina home. It’s the same fire that tragically took the life of Hamlin’s ailing father, Dennis Hamlin.
Right ahead of the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray, where he finished fifth, and RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece bagged the win, Denny Hamlin told the reporters,
“She’s getting better, she’s actually down in Florida with some family this week, so she’s definitely getting better.
Now all eyes are on the Daytona 500, scheduled for February 15, 2026. Given that Chase Elliott won last year, all eyes will be on Hamlin to see whether he can bag his fourth Daytona 500 victory this year. Fans can watch the Toyota icon in action on FOX, starting at 2:30 pm ET, or listen to live radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
