Denny Hamlin

November 18, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Denny Hamlin was born on November 18, 1980. He started racing when he was seven. By the time he was in his teens, he was racing mini stocks and won his first stock car race at Langley Speedway. Hamlin has been competing full-time in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (N.A.S.C.A.R.) Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing since 2004. He has won 48 N.A.S.C.A.R. Cup Series races and has acted as a guest analyst on panels. As of 2020, he co-owns 23Xl Racing with Michael Jordan. Let’s celebrate his impressive record on his birthday.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

James Dennis Alan Hamlin

Nickname:

Denny, Denny Dynamite

Birth date:

November 18, 1980

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Scorpio

Height:

6' 0"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$65 million

Background

James Dennis Alan Hamlin was born on November 18, 1980, in St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. His parents are Mary Lou Clark and Dennis Hamlin; Kevin and Lisa are his siblings. He spent much of his childhood in Chesterfield, Virginia where he began racing go-karts at the age of seven. By the time he was 15, he had excelled enough in the field of racing to win the World Karting Association (W.K.A.) Manufacturers Cup. He won his first stock car race at Langley Speedway progressing to the Grand Stock division in 1998 and the Late Model Stock Cars in 2000. In 2002, he scored 10 Late Model race victories. In 2004, Joe Gibbs Racing signed him to a driver development contract.

Hamlin has been a full-time N.A.S.C.A.R. driver for 18 years. He has won several N.A.S.C.A.R. Cup series races including the Daytona 500, Cook Out Southern 500, Can-Am Duels, and Sprint Unlimited series three times each. He won the Sprint All-Star race in 2015 and the Coca-Cola 600 series in 2022. In 2006, he was the first rookie to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. He is only the fourth person to win in back-to-back seasons after Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and Sterling Marlin. Along with basketball legend Michael Jordan, he is the co-owner of the 23Xl racing organization.

Hamlin was a Fox N.A.S.C.A.R. guest analyst in 2016 for the Xfinity Series and returned the next year for the same event. Also in 2016, he recorded video clips with his Toyota teammates about how to drive a lap at N.A.S.C.A.R. tracks in the video game N.A.S.C.A.R. Heat Evolution. He is one of eight playable drivers on the E.A. Sports N.A.S.C.A.R. Racing arcade game. Hamlin was in a long-term relationship with Jordan Fish before they split up in 2021. They have two children.

Career timeline

1997

The First Major Win

Hamlin wins the W.K.A. Manufacturers Cup at the age of 15.

2000

He Moves Up the Ladder

Hamlin progresses to the Late Model Stock Cars.

2004

The Professional Contract

Hamlin is signed to a driver development contract by Joe Gibbs Racing.

2016

The Two N.A.S.C.A.R. Series Win

Hamlin wins the Daytona 500 N.A.S.C.A.R. Cup Series motor race and the Sprint Unlimited series for the first and third time out of three wins, respectively.

2020

The Single-car Team

Along with Michael Jordan, Hamlin fields a single-car team named 23Xl Racing for the 2021 N.A.S.C.A.R. Cup Series.

2022

The Coca-Cola 600 Series Win

Hamlin is the winner of the 63rd running of the Coca-Cola 600 N.A.S.C.A.R. Cup Series Race.

Why We Love Denny Hamlin

He started young
While people struggle to identify what makes them happy till way into their adulthood, Hamlin has been following his passion since he was seven! He has been competing in races ever since. This means he’s been in the racing business for 35 years.
He is enterprising
Not only is Hamlin one of the best race car drivers to compete in the series, but he is also the minority partner of 23XI Racing, which was launched in 2020. We truly admire his drive and ingenuity.
He is consistent
Hamlin has been consistent with his performance since his impressive rookie campaign. His steadfastness and determination have made him a sports icon.

5 Surprising Facts

He lives in a mansion
Hamlin lives in a huge 30,000-square-foot mansion, which has a helipad, a bowling alley, and a golf and racing simulator.
His thoughts on Daytona 500
When he was seven, Hamlin wrote an essay in school about his desire to win the Daytona 500 series.
His injury while playing basketball
One of Hamlin’s most serious injuries was caused not by racing but by playing basketball when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
His impressive N.A.S.C.A.R. wins
Hamline had 49 career N.A.S.C.A.R. Cup Series victories.
He is in a music video
Along with fellow driver Bubba Wallace, Hamlin was featured in the music video for Post Malone’s song ‘Motley Crew.’