Denny Hamlin spills the beans on his retirement plans after Darlington win

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his thoughts on retirement as he comes close to the final years of his career.

Denny Hamlin spills the beans on his retirement plans after Darlington win

Denny Hamlin (Via newsminimalist.com)

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin is one of the most accomplished racers in the history of NASCAR. Other than the coveted Cup Series title, he has won almost everything that is to win in the sport and still is capable of ending his Hall of Fame worthy career as a champion with his No:11 JGR Toyota team.

Denny Hamlin is currently on the right path to secure the championship he is longing for, with 2025 Playoff entry secured following back-to-back wins in the last two Cup weekends. But the time is definitely running out for the 44-year-old and time has come for the 23XI Racing co-owner to plan for his retirement. He was asked about the same by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a recent episode of Dale Jr. Download podcast.

When asked about the retirement by the Hall of Famer, Hamlin admitted that he isn’t thinking about it at the moment. But he knows a racer always has to time plan for it and pointed out that his planning will align with JGR’s replacement strategies. He also wants to race for his team 23XI at least in a part-time basis before calling quits.

Not right now. I mean, you always have to plan for it, and you want to give the team proper time to come up with their next plan as well. I think that running some at 23XI is something that I’d like to do.

Denny Hamlin said via Dale Jr. Download.

Further talking about the point, Hamlin highlighted the supported he has gotten from Joe Gibbs and the whole Joe Gibbs Racing team since he joined their side. He believes he wouldn’t have gotten a better backing from any other teams in the garage.

You know, Joe Gibbs Racing’s been amazing to me over the 20 years that I’ve been with them. Just fantastic, couldn’t be any better. Joe and that whole group has just been amazing.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin explains more about goals about racing with 23XI

In the same conversation, Hamlin explained why he wants his career as a 23XI Racing driver. He pointed out that he really wants to end his career driving for his own team, which he sees as a cool goal, and he sees it as the perfect was to phase out his career instead of just quickly ending.

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan
Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan (Via IMAGO)

But you know, there’s certain things that are different. I do have a race team. You know, I really would like – even if I phased out and ran some there, that would be a cool goal of mine. Just whatever it is. Five races, 25, whatever it might be. It’d be a cool way to phase out instead of just stopping.

Denny Hamlin said.

He admitted that he will have tough time trying to not race in the sport he dedicated his whole life for but is also determined that he will only race as far as he is competitive on the track. That’s why he wants to race for 23XI before he is over his prime of winning races. He also understands that the timings might not work out for him in the future and he might not get to finish his goal.

I think I’d have a tough time just stopping. But I want to be competitive when I do it. I don’t want to do it when I’m passed my prime of winning. However, that timing works, that’s how I would like for it to work, but you don’t always get to decide.

Denny Hamlin added.

The JGR veteran will end his career as one of the most influential personal in the history of the sport. Bringing Michael Jordan into the sport, the mega Airspeed (23XI race shop) and the recent lawsuit against NASCAR is some instances that shows his impact to the sport, outside being an elite driver.