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Denny Hamlin Discusses 2026 Plan, Dad’s Reaction To Crushing Title Defeat

Jared Turner Written by Sports EditorJared Turner
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Denny Hamlin

When speaking before the NASCAR Cup Series awards ceremony two days after losing the championship in devastating fashion, Denny Hamlin stopped short of saying he was fully committed to racing in 2026 as planned.

Now a little more than two weeks since barely missing out on the championship he’s been in the hunt for several times, Hamlin gave some insight into his current headspace concerning his immediate future.

And with that, it’s now far more clear whether he’ll compete next year or hang up his helmet this offseason.

Denny Hamlin Finally Gives A Firm Answer On What He’ll Be Doing In 2026

With Denny Hamlin back in the studio for his first “Actions Detrimental” podcast since his crushing defeat in the 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, host Jared Allen asked the question on everyone’s mind.

The exact query: Are you going to race next season?

Hamlin, who earlier this year signed a two-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, gave a more direct answer than he did a couple of days after the season finale.

In short: He plans to fulfill his contractual obligations to Joe Gibbs Racing and team owner Joe Gibbs, who first hired him to compete full time for the organization beginning in 2005.

“Listen, I would have begged Joe to let me quit, had I won that race,” said Hamlin, who led 208 of 319 laps from the pole at Phoenix. “I would have. I would have just because it would have been the perfect way for me to go out. But they’re not ready for that yet.”

When Hamlin and JGR announced in July that Hamlin would compete at least two more seasons for the organization, it came with the caveat that 2027 would likely complete his lengthy tour of duty as driver of the No. 11 car.

Hamlin indicated on the podcast that the original timetable for his retirement hasn’t changed.

“We obviously set a date,” he said. “We know what’s the lifeline left.”

Hamlin did, however, reiterate on the podcast what he said two days after the season: He needs a temporary break from the sport.

“I want nothing to do with racing, still, right now,” he said. “I’ve got to get some more time.”

Denny Hamlin Shares How His Ailing Father Dealt With Painful Championship Loss

One of the big stories heading into championship weekend was how Denny Hamlin wanted to win the title for his father, Dennis, who is battling a terminal illness.

But due to circumstances beyond Hamlin’s control, he lost the championship to Kyle Larson in the race’s final moments despite having the dominant car.

So, how did his father handle the disappointing result?

“He was fine. Very supportive,” Hamlin said on his podcast. “He didn’t like the outcome. But I think he was still OK with the result.

“He said to me, just like a lot of people say, ‘I don’t know what to say.’ He’s like, ‘You had it. You did it. You just don’t have the trophy.’”

That’s not to suggest Denny’s father wasn’t emotional watching his son come so agonizingly close to capturing the title in a race he was leading comfortably before a caution with three laps left changed everything.

“There is a video from him watching the race,” Hamlin said. “And I’ve asked to not see it. Jordan (Hamlin’s fiancee, Jordan Fish) saw it. But I’ve told her I’d prefer not to.”

Jared Turner Written by Sports EditorJared Turner
Jared Turner is a motorsports writer who has covered NASCAR for 20 years. He has interviewed over 20 NASCAR Hall of Famers and around 100 drivers, crew chiefs, and team owners, both past and present. He has also covered the sport for FOX Sports (where he was a two-time recipient of the FOX “X” Award for “Xtraordinary” job performance), NASCAR.com, Sporting News, NASCAR Pole Position Magazine, the SPEED network, and plenty of other online and print-only publications throughout his career. Notably, Jared has penned dozens of articles for NASCAR souvenir programs, including several featured prominently in Daytona 500 keepsakes. A Virginia Press Association award winner and former member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), Jared has racked up accolades both for his writing and his academic work. He studied both Communication and Psychology at Virginia Tech, where he was permanently enshrined in Phi Beta Kappa — the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. Jared excels at feature writing and opinion writing, much of which stems from his dedication to all levels of racing.
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