Denny Hamlin is having a banner year in what is supposed to be his penultimate season as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver.
He’s second in the points with three wins and eight top five finishes and won the last two races from the back of the pack.
The latest was his 63rd win, which ties him with Kyle Busch for the eighth-most career wins in Cup Series history.
One more will give him sole possession of seventh and put him 12 away from tying Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s 76 wins. While not out of reach with more than a season-and-a-half worth of races to go, it would still be an epic achievement. But what if he had more time?
SUBSCRIBE TO THE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Hamlin was asked during his post-race press conference at Michigan International Speedway if he would consider sticking around for another year if his performance continues like it’s been.
“I think if — and that’s a big if — like I’m at this point and this fast at this point next year, it would be a tough, tough decision. That’s not saying that I would, but it would be a tough decision because, again, I’m planning for the downfall that I know will come,” Hamlin said.
“I always say there’s like three things that happen. You’re going to lose your eyesight, then you lose — in no particular order, it’s your eyesight, your reaction, and then your body hurts. I’ve already got the body hurts part of it, right? It’s just the other two things have remained really sharp. Yeah, I don’t know. It was certainly a goal to get to 63 or -4 as of a couple years ago, or a year ago, because I knew that would put me by myself in ninth. I ain’t getting to eighth, so what am I doing? You know what I mean? I’m content. If I quit tomorrow, I swear I will feel no more gratified than if I go out there and win 72 races before I — it makes no difference. Nobody cares. You’ll be forgotten within six months of when you’re not here. I might as well just enjoy life while I’m still somewhat young and be able to be there a little bit more for the kids and what they’re doing.”
Hamlin also revealed that he expects Joe Gibbs Racing O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Brent Crews to step into his car when he hangs it up. The 18-year-old already has five top five finishes, including two runner-up results this season, despite having missed four races due to age restrictions at tracks early in the season before his March 30th birthday.
“At the end of next year … I told him just check with me in six months. Check with me in six months,” Hamlin said on Prime Sports. “I don’t want to leave them in flux. They’ve got a great driver in Brent Crews that’s gonna be ready more than likely by the end of next year. It’d be hard — if [the end of this contract] was right now, it’d be really hard. But I find it hard to believe we’re gonna be at this level at this time next year.”
