Denny Hamlin hits massive jackpot in Las Vegas amidst unlucky NASCAR run in 2025

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has won a huge jackpot at Las Vegas Motor Speedway ahead of the Cup race.

Denny Hamlin hits massive jackpot in Las Vegas amidst unlucky NASCAR run in 2025

Denny Hamlin (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)

The 2025 NASCAR Cup season so far hasn’t been kind to the three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin. His best finish was the P2 at Phoenix Raceway, losing to teammate Christopher Bell, who secured three race wins in a row. He scored P6 at Atlanta, but the Daytona and COTA earned him finishes outside the top 20.

So, coming into this weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin has one goal redeem himself and get more momentum on his side. Though luck is not his side on the track, it seems on the outside he is fortunate. The most recent example of it was the jackpot he won this week at Vegas ahead of the race.

Hamlin and his friends often gamble ahead of the race weekend, and over the last three years, he has hit the jackpot twice. This time the reward was a whopping $126,000. He will be hoping that luck will ride alongside him to the track, where he will be starting P15 and help him secure the race win.

FS Video

Denny Hamlin gave his take on Katherine Logge’s controversy

One of the biggest controversies from last race week was Katherine Logge’s debut. Owing to her lack of experience she had a race to forget, which ended in a crash with Daniel Suarez. She has been receiving criticism from the racing community and Denny Hamlin has now chimed in, admitting he feels bad for the British racer.

Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge (Via @IndyCar/X)

There probably needs to be a stricter process than what it is. I hate this… last week, the way it played out because I feel bad for Katherine.

Denny Hamlin told Frontstrech.

He pointed out that all the criticism Legge is getting isn’t fair. In the words of Kevin Harvick, who was thrown to the wolves by NASCAR at Phoenix because she had never experienced racing Next-Gen cars, even an elite Cup car, before making the debut.

Again, you get out there, things are different in the race but it’s like I hate it for her… and it’s probably not fair to her that she’s kind of getting the brunt of all the scrutiny.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin urges NASCAR to make changes to driver approval process

One of the resolutions the NASCAR community has come up with following the issues with Legge’s debut is making the approval process stricter. Denny Hamlin has joined this group and has urged NASCAR to make the process fairer for everyone involved with the elite division of stock car racing.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin (Via newsminimalist.com)

But it does open and it should open eyes to NASCAR to like, ‘We’re not very strict in who gets to run Cup cars.’ And it should be the most elite series and shouldn’t just come in whenever you want. Certainly, you’d like to see it a little bit stricter.

Denny Hamlin said.

Alongside the approval process, NASCAR should also work on rookie driver testing/practice. There needs to be changes made to ensure drivers will get more opportunities to learn about the car and track before making the debut.