Denny Hamlin Wants to Finish His NASCAR Career “in Top 10 of Winners List”

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his thoughts on the new Cup win goal he has set for himself after Dover win.

Denny Hamlin Wants to Finish His NASCAR Career “in Top 10 of Winners List”

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

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Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin is more locked in the championship fight that he has ever been in his career at the age of 44. With four Cup race victories to his name, he is the winningest driver of the 2025 season, and securing these wins amidst the controversies over charter lawsuit makes it more special.

Last Sunday at Dover International Speedway, he secured his 58th career win, all coming in the No:11 JGR Toyota, and that has inspired him to rethink his career goals. Initially the three times Daytona 500 winner was looking for 60 wins to his name, now with that target being just two wins close, in the Dale Jr. Download podcast Denny Hamlin admitted that he is shifting the post to 70 wins.  

I’m just goal-driven. I know that’s such a cliche answer, right? But I’m just a goals-driven person, right? I said I want to win 60 races. Well, if I get to 60 then I’m going to tell you I want to get to 70.

Denny Hamlin said on Dale Jr. Download podcast.

Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. who was hosting the podcast, was surprised by the veteran racers’ admission and push back him on it, advising him to put the target at 65. But Hamlin being Hamlin, one of the most mentally tough racer and competitor the sport has seen, he is picking the most ambitious target.

The veteran racer has a good plan for the get to that point in the next couple of years. He pointed out that, if he can end the 2025 season with six wins to his name, and have four wins seasons in the next couple of years, getting to the magic number of 70 is possible. That will help him to finish his career as 9th most winner ever behind Dale Earnhardt, helping him stay longer in the top-10 list.

I mean four a year for the next couple years? Finish this year off with a couple more? I don’t know. Who knows? I don’t know. If you don’t have goals, if they’re just so easily attainable is it really a goal? It’s more like a want at that point. I don’t know. I just feel like I want to win as many races as I possibly possibly can…I really want to finish my career in the top 10 of winners list.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin reveals his career goal and how to keep his legacy intact

There are multiple drivers that are coming to the 60 wins mark at the moment in Joey Logano and Kyle Larson, but Hamlin has a plan to slow down their progress. He is determined secures as much wins he can at the moment, stealing them from the duo, to make sure these two racers will take more time to get into the top 10.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)

I’ve got to plan on a few guys coming up that will beat that one day, right? So, you can’t just be 10th. You’re going to end up being 11th or 13th when this thing is all said and done. So, I’ve got to get myself well inside that top 10, and certainly I think today it’s harder to win than ever.

Denny Hamlin said.

Th Joe Gibbs Racing star driver the highlighted how it has become hard to secure race win milestone unlike in the past, as more driver are competitive and secure more wins. So, if Hamlin can keep the likes for Kyle Larson at bay till his retirement, things will pam out as he planned.

I think that the wins get spread out more than other years past…So, I don’t know. As long as I can keep winning and keep guys like Kyle Larson from winning it’ll keep them from passing me in a quicker fashion.

Denny Hamlin added.

It won’t be easy for Denny Hamlin to secure 12 more wins to achieve the new goal he has set for himself. He has at most four more good seasons left in him, before the age factor catch up with him and he get forced to retire. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the star driver in the coming years.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Brands Himself as The “Most Competitive Person on Earth”