Driver: Denny Hamlin Number: 11 Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Manufacturer: Toyota Crew Chief: Chris Gayle Primary Sponsor: Progressive Series: NASCAR Cup Series Age: 45 (as of May 2026)
2026 Season Notes
Hamlin won the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway on May 17, 2026, from the pole position — passing Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe with 29 laps remaining and beating him by .887 seconds for the million-dollar check. With the win, he became the third driver in NASCAR history to win the All-Star Race at multiple tracks. It was his second career All-Star victory.
He has stated publicly that he is "talking openly about when to walk away" from full-time Cup competition. Asked at Dover whether next year really has to be his last, his answer is below in his own words.
"I do not want to go through the regression. My ego will not allow me to be mediocre. I'm going to have to leave some on the table at some point, right? In order to know that you can win your last race, you're going to have to go into the next year saying, I'm not doing it, but I could have."
— Denny Hamlin, Dover Motor Speedway press conference, May 17, 2026
Dover
By his own description, Dover Motor Speedway is now one of Hamlin's top three tracks. It wasn't always — early in his career, the Monster Mile was one of his worst. He talked about that change at Dover in May 2026:
"Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex, I spent an enormous amount of time studying those two guys. They taught me how to go around the racetrack. Just being able to adapt my style to someone else's style that performs well at this racetrack is probably my strength."
— Denny Hamlin, Dover Motor Speedway press conference, May 17, 2026
Off the Track
Hamlin's father died in December 2025 in a fire that destroyed his parents' home. When he won the $1 million All-Star prize at Dover in May 2026, he was asked what he planned to do with it. He smiled and said, "Probably give it to mama." In the following press conference, he added: "Mom needs some furniture for her new house."
At Joe Gibbs Racing
Heather Gibbs, JGR co-owner, on Hamlin in May 2026:
"Every Monday when we have our driver meetings, it's kind of like a master class. He has so much wisdom, so much experience. He's great with giving feedback, working with Ty and others. He's done such an incredible job with our sponsors. There's definitely no falloff and I think a lot of wisdom to be learned from Denny."
Chris Gayle, the No. 11 crew chief, on whether the All-Star win cemented JGR as the best team in the garage:
"I think we've shown that all year. We don't necessarily have as many wins as we could have — there's been two, maybe three we left on the table."
Career Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Cup Series wins | 61 (alone in 10th all-time as of May 2026) |
| Daytona 500 wins | 3 (2016, 2019, 2020) — most among active drivers; one of five drivers ever with back-to-back 500s (2019-20) |
| Coca-Cola 600 wins | 1 (2022) |
| Southern 500 wins | 3 (2010, 2017, 2021) |
| Pole awards | 49 (Busch Light Pole Awards) |
| All-Star Race wins | 2 (2026 Dover; 1 prior — third driver in NASCAR history to win at multiple All-Star tracks) |
| Cup seasons | 21 (2026 is his 21st full-time Cup season) |
| Championship finishes | Runner-up 2010 (lost to Jimmie Johnson); runner-up 2025 |
| Career milestone | One of five drivers — with Petty, Pearson, Earnhardt, and Gordon — to win in 20+ different Cup seasons |
| 2026 (through five races) | 1 win (Las Vegas, March), 2 top-5s, 3 top-10s, 31st at Daytona 500 — plus the All-Star Race win at Dover |
Biography
Born in Tampa, Florida. His parents Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin moved the family to the Richmond, Virginia area when Denny was two years old. He has driven the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in NASCAR's Cup Series since 2005.
Recent Coverage
- May 18, 2026 — Hamlin Wins the Million From the Pole at Dover. The Million Goes to Mama. (GNT All-Star recap)
- May 18, 2026 — Hamlin Wins the Million From the Pole at Dover. The Million Goes to Mama. (CLT Mercury cross-pub)
- May 15, 2026 — The Monster Mile Gets Its Moment: Dover Hosts the NASCAR All-Star Race for the First Time (GNT preview)
- May 15, 2026 — What to Watch and Who's Hot Heading Into Dover's First All-Star Race (GNT preview)
- May 13, 2026 — Dover Hosts the All-Star Race for the First Time. The Format Is the Story. (GNT format explainer)
- May 1, 2026 — Denny Hamlin Opens The CW's O'Reilly Series Booth Rotation at Charlotte. Five More Cup Drivers Are Booked Behind Him. (CLT Mercury)
Related Pages
- Joe Gibbs Racing — Team Profile
- Dover Motor Speedway — Track Guide
- Charlotte Motor Speedway — Track Guide
- Driver Directory
Draft profile. Career stats block awaits a primary-source refresh. Notable additions to make on the next update: Daytona 500 wins, Cup victory total, championship finishes, current playoff position.