Denny Hamlin isn’t going anywhere.
The 44-year-old and Joe Gibbs Racing inked a two-year extension with each other that will keep the perpetual NASCAR Cup Series contender in the No. 11 Toyota Camry through the 2027 season. And despite his age, Hamlin is still amongst the best in the discipline, currently leading the division with four victories.
Hamlin is the longest tenured driver in the history of Joe Gibbs Racing with 706 wins with the team since the 2006 season with 58 wins during that time. He is currently 11th on the all-time wins list at the highest level and now will have at least three more chances to win that elusive championship.
But beyond that, Hamlin has prioritized more in this current playoff era, of just making the top-10 in wins and putting a number that will last the test of time.
So why just a two-year extension instead of three?
“For me, three years… who knows what could happen three years from now?” Hamlin said. “I just want to make sure I give them the proper time and make sure I commit to them, not for one year, (but) for multiple years, let them continue to build the program…
“If I was 26, I would take 10 years, but I want to make sure I’m still at my peak form in my final year. That could be tailing off in three years, and I don’t want that.”
And while winning a championship is a complicated endeavor in this playoff era, Hamlin says he just wants to add to a resume of crown jewels that includes three Daytona 500s (2016, 2019 and 2020), three Southern 500s (2010, 2017 and 2021) and the 2022 Coca-Cola 600.
“I want to be high on the list of Crown Jewel winners,” Hamlin said. “So, if I can get a couple more of those and put myself well into the 60s (win total), if not a bigger number, then I’m going to be happy.”
Hamlin will have another shot at the Brickyard 400 crown jewel this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
