James Dennis Alan Hamlin born November 18, 1980 is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. Currently, he competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. In addition to his driving career, Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing alongside basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. Hamlin has achieved 54 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, with notable wins including the Coca-Cola 600 in 2022, the Southern 500 in 2010, 2017, and 2021, and the Daytona 500 in 2016, 2019, and 2020. He is one of only four drivers in history to win the Daytona 500 in back-to-back seasons, joining Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and Sterling Marlin.
Denny Hamlin Biography 2024
Despite never winning a NASCAR Cup Series championship, Hamlin holds the record for the most wins without a title and has consistently been a top contender throughout his career. Except for the 2013 season, when an injury sidelined him for a significant portion of the season, Hamlin has qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in every full-time season (18 seasons through 2024). His impressive rookie campaign in 2006 saw him finish third in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup, marking one of the best rookie seasons in modern NASCAR history. In 2023, Hamlin launched a weekly podcast titled Actions Detrimental on Dirty Mo Media. In the podcast, he offers insights into both the business and competitive sides of racing, often sharing his vast knowledge of the sport alongside his co-host, former NFL player Jared Allen.
Denny Hamlin Biography Details
| Born | James Dennis Alan Hamlin
November 18, 1980 (age 44)
Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
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| Weight | 154 lb (70 kg) |
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| Achievements | 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion (Owner)
2016, 2019, 2020 Daytona 500 Winner
2015 Sprint All-Star Race Winner
2010, 2017, 2021 Southern 500 Winner
2022 Coca-Cola 600 Winner
2008, 2014, 2017 Can-Am Duels Winner
2006, 2014, 2016, 2024 Busch Light Clash Winner
7 Wins at Pocono Raceway (Most all time)
4 Wins at Kansas Speedway (Most all time)
Winner of the 1st and 2nd closest Daytona 500s ever (2016-0.010s, 2020-0.014s)
Winner of the closest Xfinity Series finish at Michigan International Speedway (0.012s)
First rookie to qualify for Chase for the Nextel Cup (2006) |
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| Awards | 2006 Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year
Named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers (2023) |
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Denny Hamlin Early Life
Hamlin was born in Tampa, Florida, but spent much of his childhood in Chesterfield Court House, Virginia. His racing journey began at the age of seven in 1988 when he started competing in go-karts. By 1997, at age 15, he had secured the WKA Manufacturers Cup. He began racing mini stocks at 16, and in his first-ever stock car race at Langley Speedway, he not only claimed the pole position but also won the race. Over the next few years, Hamlin moved up to the Grand Stock division in 1998 and then to Late Model Stock Cars in 2000. In 2002, he captured ten victories in Late Model racing, and by 2003, he had achieved 25 wins and 30 poles out of 36 races. His success in Late Models led to a full-time commitment to the series in 2004, which coincided with him signing a driver development contract with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Career Achievements
Title | Achievement |
2024 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion (Owner) | Led 23XI Racing to the top of the standings in 2024. |
Daytona 500 Victories | 2016, 2019, 2020 – 3 wins in NASCAR’s most prestigious race. |
Southern 500 Victories | 2010, 2017, 2021 – A standout in one of NASCAR’s oldest races. |
Coca-Cola 600 Winner | 2022 – Victory in one of NASCAR’s longest races. |
Busch Light Clash Winner | 2006, 2014, 2016, 2024 – Several victories in the non-points event. |
Denny Hamlin Racing Records
Race Record | Details |
Most Wins at Pocono Raceway | 7 wins – Most by any driver at the track. |
Most Wins at Kansas Speedway | 4 wins – Dominant performances at one of NASCAR’s fastest tracks. |
Closest Daytona 500 Finishes | 2016 – 0.010 seconds, 2020 – 0.014 seconds – Both records for closest finishes in history. |
Xfinity Series Closest Finish | 2006 – A 0.012-second margin at Michigan International Speedway. |
Early Racing Career
Year | Details |
1988 | Began racing go-karts at the age of 7. |
1997 | Won the WKA Manufacturers Cup at age 15. |
2002 | Achieved ten Late Model victories. |
2003 | Won 25 races and 30 poles in Late Model Stock Cars. |
2004 | Signed a driver development contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. |
NASCAR Cup Series Career
Year | Race Details |
2006 | First full-time Cup Series season with Joe Gibbs Racing. |
2006 | Won two races at Pocono Raceway, becoming only the second rookie in history to do so. |
2006 | Finished third in the standings, highest rookie finish ever. |
2007 | Clinched a spot in the Chase for the Cup, finishing 12th overall. |
2008 | Finished 8th in points, securing a win at Martinsville. |
Major NASCAR Wins and Highlights
Race | Date |
Pocono 500 | 2006 – First Cup win |
Southern 500 | 2010, 2017, 2021 |
Daytona 500 | 2016, 2019, 2020 |
Coca-Cola 600 | 2022 |
Can-Am Duels | 2008, 2014, 2017 |
Season Performance 2024
Event | Details |
Busch Light Clash at Coliseum | Winner |
Daytona 500 | 19th-place finish |
Bristol Spring Race | Winner |
Richmond Race | Winner |
Dover Race | Winner |
Personal Life and Media Presence
Event/Media Appearance | Details |
Podcast | Actions Detrimental – Launched in 2023, hosted alongside Jared Allen. |
Fox Sports Guest Analyst | Appeared for the Xfinity Series at Talladega and Pocono in 2016. |
Post Malone Music Video | Featured in “Motley Crew” music video alongside Bubba Wallace. |
23XI Racing Ownership
Year | Key Event |
2020 | Co-founded 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. |
2021 | Bubba Wallace secured the team’s first victory at Talladega. |
2022 | Expanded to two cars, adding Kurt Busch in the No. 45 car. |
2023 | Tyler Reddick joined the team as a full-time driver. |
Career Statistics NASCAR Cup Series
Statistical Category | Value |
Total Races | 678 |
Total Wins | 54 |
Top-10 Finishes | 352 |
Poles | 44 |
Best Championship Finish | 2nd (2010) |
NASCAR Xfinity Series Career
Total Races | 164 |
Wins | 18 |
Top-10 Finishes | 101 |
Poles | 21 |
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Career
Total Races | 16 |
Wins | 2 |
Top-10 Finishes | 10 |
Poles | 1 |
ARCA Menards Series Career
Total Races | 2 |
Top-10 Finishes | 1 |
Poles | 0 |
Racing-Related Video Games
Video Game | Year Released |
NASCAR Heat Evolution | 2016 |
NASCAR Rivals | 2022 |
NASCAR Racing Arcade | 2000 |
Notable Personal Details
Category | Details |
Birth Date | November 18, 1980 |
Birthplace | Tampa, Florida |
Family | Son of Dennis Hamlin and Mary Lou Clark. |
Engagement | Engaged to Jordan Fish, with two daughters. |
Racing Milestones and Honors
Honor | Year |
Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year | 2006 |
NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers | 2023 |
Other Career Achievements
Achievement | Details |
Xfinity Series Closest Finish | 2006 – 0.012-second win at Michigan. |
Busch Series Wins | Multiple wins in 2007-2008, including victories at Darlington, Michigan, and Dover. |
Denny Hamlin Net Worth
Denny Hamlin is an American NASCAR race car driver who has a net worth of $65 million.
Denny Hamlin Summary
Denny Hamlin is a prominent NASCAR driver, known for his 54 Cup Series victories, including three Daytona 500 wins. He is regarded as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers and has had a career marked by consistent success and near-championship finishes. Despite not securing a Cup title, Hamlin remains a perennial playoff contender, with notable wins in races like the Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500. Off the track, Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan and hosts a popular podcast, Actions Detrimental. He also expanded his career into media and entertainment, appearing in video games and music videos.
