Denny Hamlin Reveals Injury Struggles Heading Into 2026

Denny Hamlin ended the 2025 season on a disastrous note. Hamlin couldn’t catch a break as disappointments kept coming in his life, one after the other. Now, the 2026 season might be off to a rocky start as well. The JGR veteran is reportedly suffering from a shoulder injury that he had to power through and achieve an impressive finish at the Cook Out Clash.

Denny Hamlin‘s scars were fresh after losing the Cup Series championship despite dominating the entirety of the 2025 season. The 45-year-old was heartbroken following the title loss. Moreover, Hamlin lost his father, Dennis Hamlin, in a tragic fire incident as his mother fought for her life in the hospital. Though his mother is recovering better than expected, the JGR veteran was at an utterly low point in his life.

The season-opener at the Bowman Gray Stadium witnessed Denny Hamlin start the season off with a bang and achieve a P5 finish in the pecking order. However, in a post-race interview, Hamlin revealed how he injured his shoulder while going through the fiery rubble at his parents’ house. Now, the 45-year-old pointed out that he might have to keep visiting the hospital, and potentially go through surgery again.

Speaking on his injury, Denny Hamlin noted that the injury never healed properly, despite going through surgery back in 2023. Hamlin revealed that he had taken a fall while going through the rubble at his parents’ house. Since then, the JGR star has torn his shoulder once again and has been suffering from pain since then. As such, the 45-year-old might have to keep visiting the hospital and go through physical therapy for the entirety of the 2026 season.

So I’m gonna have to go the rest of the season the way I was before there, I don’t think that it ever healed properly. Just noticed some issues, really kind of right after the season. It just was nagging me a little bit. Took a little fall at my mom’s house, going through all the rubble and stuff and just didn’t feel right. Got it re-scanned and re-tore it again.

Denny Hamlin told NASCAR.

Denny Hamlin reveals shoulder injury ‘not the priority’ in 2026

The 2026 season of NASCAR introduced a return to the Chase Championship format, as points and race wins will matter more than ever. Denny Hamlin, who achieved the most victories in 2025, will certainly hope to replicate his previous season’s performances. However, a shoulder injury might limit the activities he can enjoy off-track, and potentially even cause him difficulties during races.

Despite anticipating problems, Denny Hamlin revealed that getting his shoulder repaired wasn’t at the top of his priority list. Though he accepted that he would miss out on some of the awesome off-track activities he usually enjoys. Hamlin asserted that some activities caused the pain to flare up and potentially tear even more than it already has.

Limiting, honestly, the things I love to do. That’s not going to be a priority during the season, unfortunately. So I’m just going to miss out on a lot of the fun things, but I can’t do some things I like to do, simply because that aggravates it, and it certainly causes the tear to get worse. It’s kind of hanging on. It’s torn, but it’s still got a little few parts and pieces hanging on that I need to keep intact for the full year.

Denny Hamlin noted.

Certainly, life hasn’t been treating Denny Hamlin kindly in recent months. However, the 45-year-old is not looking for any sympathy and is focusing on his performances. The 2026 season has finally begun after multiple delays because of the snowstorm. Hamlin will give it his all to finally achieve the championship win that he very much deserves at the pinnacle of stock racing.

Continue Reading: “If They Give Me Hate!” Daniel Suarez Gives Bold Response to Run-in with Shane van Gisbergen at Bowman Gray

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