Dale Earnhardt Jr. Finds It ‘Hard to Believe’ Denny Hamlin Will Retire from Racing anytime soon

Dale Earnhardt Jr. insisted he couldn't believe that Denny Hamlin would retire from NASCAR despite emerging as one of the best drivers this year.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Finds It ‘Hard to Believe’ Denny Hamlin Will Retire from Racing anytime soon

Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Via IMAGO)

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Denny Hamlin is enjoying quite an eventful time in the 2025 season. The JGR veteran is the winningest driver on the grid this year and is looking extremely promising for a championship win. Hamlin has been racing in the Cup Series since the 2005 season but has yet to win his first title.

Now, the 44-year-old had recently opened up on his retirement plans, and it was sooner than people expected. Hence, Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighed in on the #11 driver’s plans for retirement. Denny Hamlin had recently crossed the 700 races start mark, and people had cast doubts on his winning chances thereafter.

The 44-year-old proved all the naysayers wrong and achieved multiple race wins since then. The recent Las Vegas victory marked Hamlin’s 60th career win, and he provided a heartfelt tribute to his ‘two dads’ after achieving such a coveted title. Now, Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalled the veteran’s retirement talks and how it seemed to be sooner than expected.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalled how Denny Hamlin had talked about his retirement and that there was an end date on his NASCAR career, despite his results looking stronger than ever. Earnhardt Jr. reckoned that Hamlin would be happy to win and salvage the best results possible in the little time he had left racing in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Even though Denny Hamlin is enjoying some intense moments of high in his recent NASCAR career, he might still consider retiring, especially after fathering his third child with his fiancée Jordan Fish. However, contrary to what Hamlin said, Dale Earnhardt Jr. predicted that if the former kept winning races towards the end of his career like he is currently, he wouldn’t just hang up the racing suit and quit the sport at that point.

He [Denny Hamlin] said that he pretty much has an end date, or the end of the runway, in terms of his career, I guess that he’s happy to win whatever races there are in that short period of time. But should he still be winning at the end of that off-ramp, I find it hard to beleive that he’s just going to hang it up and stop.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. predicts Denny Hamlin can match Dale Earnhardt Sr’s race wins

Dale Earnhardt Sr. is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of NASCAR. The legend had amassed over 76 Cup Series race wins and seven coveted championships in the pinnacle of stock racing. As such, with the career that Denny Hamlin is currently having, Dale Jr. reckons that he might soon close in on Senior’s race wins and potentially not quit the sport before that.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin wins at Las Vegas (Via @XfinityRacing/X)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. pondered that if Denny Hamlin were still winning races and maintaining a dominant record, he wouldn’t simply quit the sport. Dale Jr. predicted that the 44-year-old would keep racing and try to match previous records, if not surpass them. The Hall of Famer noted that with 16 more wins, Hamlin could match Dale Earnhardt Sr., and he wouldn’t give up so soon if achieving this feat was even remotely possible for the JGR Veteran.

Yeah, so that’s what I’m thinking. I mean, if the guy’s still winning races, why would he quit in that final year? I don’t think he would. I think he keeps racing. Because there are other targets out there, right? You look up there and my dad’s [Dale Earnhardt Sr.] up there with about sixteen more wins. If he could even get close to that, how would you not want to tie that guy?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. noted.

For now, Denny Hamlin would set his focus on the 2025 season and winning his maiden Cup Series title. The 44-year-old certainly has one of the more interesting personalities on the grid, especially after he honors the villain role very well. For now, Hamlin will try to end the season on the best possible note and prepare well for the championship finale at Phoenix.

Read More: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Asserts “Odds Are Really Against” Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano in R-8