Denny Hamlin Confirms NASCAR Retirement Plans: ‘Not Going To Leave This Sport On My Deathbed’
Denny Hamlin is almost done. After winning his 59th career Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said he expects to retire at the end of his latest contract with the team in 2027, but suggested it could happen sooner than that.
“I’m just not going to leave this sport on my deathbed, you know, just leaking oil, running in the back of the pack. I have way too much pride for that. I’m way too cocky for that. There’s just no way. I want to be able to win my last race,” Hamlin said during his post-race press conference. “To do that, I’m going to have to retire when I’m racing like this.”
Hamlin is having a big season at age 44 with a series-leading five wins and currently sits at the top of the playoff standings. He has more wins than any driver without a championship, but has recently said his goal is to make it onto the all-time top 10 list, which he will do the next time he wins to tie Kevin Harvick at 60.
“Just knowing that I put a timeline on the end. That to me has been the number one factor. I talked to Harvick the other day. I was just like, I knew exactly how many races were left. The countdown has begun,” he said.
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“I just don’t want to end knowing, Man, those last 70 races, I didn’t really give it my all. I could have had 70 wins and really buckled down. I’m going to regret one day not having the wins that the work ethic kept me from doing. That would weigh on me well beyond my driving career. There’s no way I could live with the weight on my shoulders knowing that I shipped it in for the last 70 or so races.”
Hamlin owes his recent success to hard work and focus and said he doesn’t know anyone who is more competitive than him. While he’d still like to pick up an elusive title, he said he’s been thinking more about the specific races he only has two or three more opportunities in.
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“The only one I thought about was this year and the Daytona 500, thinking that probably only going to do this twice more. Brickyards, right? I haven’t won the freaking Brickyard. I’m going to have two more shots at it, and that’s it, to round this thing out,” he said.
“There’s certain races that I do have countdowns for. Championships isn’t one of ’em. Obviously it’s well-documented that I want to get the wins, and I feel like that will carry its weight long after. When you compare me to someone that’s maybe got one or two, maybe three championships, and half the wins, I don’t think that person’s better than I am.”
When asked if he’d consider a walk-off if he wins the title at Phoenix, which would also be his 60th win if he doesn’t get another before then, he said, “sure, absolutely. Sounds like a good way to end.”