Denny Hamlin recently shared his candid thoughts about the uncertainty of his NASCAR Cup Series future following his father’s tragic death in a house fire. The veteran driver admitted to his emotional struggle that has put his future in limbo; however, he revealed one promise that didn’t let him walk away.
Hamlin, the No. 11 Toyota driver for JGR, had a heartbreaking end to his 2025 campaign. He lost his championship bid to Kyle Larson despite being one of the winningest and most consistent drivers throughout the season. Moreover, Hamlin’s parents were victim to a devastating house fire when his father, Dennis, succumbed to death. Fortunately, his mother, Mary Lou, made it through after sustaining injuries.
Reflecting on the same, Denny Hamlin was bluntly asked about his present condition as the sport begins its preparation for the upcoming season.
“Did you consider not racing after everything that happened?” Bob Pockrass asked Hamlin.
To which the 45-year-old replied:
“I mean, I’ve considered all options. I made a promise to Joe Gibbs’ family…I think that, you know, once I get in the swing of it, it’ll actually be good, you know, to, uh, to get back to it. I just haven’t locked in for the season, necessarily quite yet.”
Furthermore, Denny Hamlin shared his gratitude towards the NASCAR community for their condolences. Also acknowledged that he might be behind in preparations, but admitted to catching up on it.
Denny Hamlin shares his stance on NASCAR’s new championship format
During the media day, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin talked about the return of the Chase format for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. In a conversation via PRNLive, he said:
“We’re going to be talking about the guys that are up front each and every week. It’s just better than what we had. Well, from a pure standpoint, it’s better. It’s going to be better. I still think the champion will be crowned at Homestead as people want it to be. But if they get, if they lock into a championship before that, I mean, that clearly means they were head and shoulders above everyone else and deserve it.”
Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Toyota team will return in action for the season-opener race at Daytona International Speedway on February 15.
