If you’re a Denny Hamlin fan, chances are the last three weeks have been a roller coaster for you. From the highs of winning at Martinsville and Darlington to a let down (not from the No. 11 car of course!) at Bristol. Needless to say, Hamlin’s fans have had their plates full. But it’s not just them who’ve been busy.
Hamlin has been putting in the work this season. Whether it’s keeping his head down in the face of near wins or results not going the way he wanted them to, the No. 11 driver has shown some resilience, fighting for every point and putting in the effort.
While Denny Hamlin is busy putting in laps around some of the fiercest competitors, home is the only arena where he really faces defeat; time is the real adversary under Hamlin’s watchful eye and consideration. Now, Denny Hamlin’s home life is no secret. Fans love to get little snippets from the Hamlin household from the Actions Detrimental show and Jordan Fish’s stories.
Just recently, Hamlin divulged that he was finally opting to take an extended break, away from strategy meetings, sponsorship events, and all of the bureaucratic necessities for something much more pressing: family time. With the Cup Series taking a break this weekend, Hamlin went on to reveal special plans with his family.
In the latest episode of Actions Detrimental, Hamlin revealed, “I get to go on a little vacation with the family. Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina. I’m not going golfing. I’m going to go with my parents sister take the kids and what not You know they need some Denny time you know So they they they do they you know I work so freaking hard I do feel bad that I come home It’s usually time I come home on week nights you know from working. We’re within an hour or two of their bedtime. I just haven’t got to see the kids as much as I’d like to, and so I need to spend some more time with them. So I’m going to do that this week.”
Denny Hamlin with girl friend Jordan Fish and their 2 daughters Taylor (4) and Molly (1) in Victory Lane after the 2019 Daytona 500, at the Daytona International Speedway February 17, 2019 Daytona, Florida. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY DAY2019021738 MIKExGENTRY
Image Credits: Imago
This is not the first time that the NASCAR grind has surfaced in Hamlin’s life. As a man wearing many hats: team co-owner, podcaster, businessman persona often turns out to be that of the calculated driver who continues to keep emotions at bay. Yet to this polished image of a man comes the realization that he is a father who has missed too many bedtime stories. It’s something his mother, Mary Lou, has spoken about in the past.
She explained back in 2012, “That was one of the things that was really difficult for his dad and I. We were so used to spending every weekend together with Denny. We did go karts since he was seven and then Denny went right into the stock cars every weekend. That is the hardest thing was not seeing or talking to him all the time every weekend.” And Hamlin tends to make the most of these breaks.
During the Olympic break last, he attended Tyler Reddick’s wedding. Later, as the end of the season approached, Hamlin went fishing alongside his family. And you can tell how much he enjoys spending time with his little ones. A decade ago, speaking about his parenthood journey, Hamlin said, “I didn’t think that I could really enjoy hanging out with a 3-year-old that much, but it’s just so fun everyday … playing soccer, doing whatever she likes to do at the particular time. So that part of it has been the most fun for me — and really kind of how it changes your attitude on good days and bad days.”
In a sport where legacies of family dynasties are rare, Hamlin’s recent comments blend those same strands of vulnerability along which the family Narratives of the great Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran. It is a peek behind the curtain-past the telemetry and trophy cases-into the emotional costs of greatness in a sport that truly never stops.
As the 2025 season is underway, Hamlin is just as committed to his quest for a Cup Series title as ever, but there is also a very telling undercurrent running through his words: the search for balance. The racing legend isn’t quitting, he’s just admitting what few in his position ever do: winning on the racetrack sometimes means missing precious moments at home.
For the Hamlin family, there is one more member yet to join them.
Denny Hamlin And Family—What Does The Future Hold?
Last Christmas, an update on Instagram brought a new wave of excitement for Hamlin fans. “The more, the Merrier. Merry Christmas,” the caption said, and it confirmed big news. Denny Hamlin was expecting his third child with Jordan Fish in 2025. And as we headed deeper into the year, Fish shared, “Feeling those little kicks already.” And it’s not just all about the kids. Fish regularly shares updates in support of the driver.
Right after Hamlin won the Goodyear 400, Fish posted, “Throwback weekend @darlingtonraceway was a success! Back to back wins for @dennyhamlin Especially grateful that my family was there to experience victory lane!” While the win didn’t materialise at Bristol, Hamlin managed a second-place finish to solidify his position in the points.
The schedule looks daunting as more responsibilities weigh down Hamlin as the co-owner of 23XI Racing. But even though it was short-lived, this recalibration could suggest changes in priorities. While the Palmetto Bluff couple’s retreat is barely lasting for days, some of the new insights gained may apply throughout the duration of his racing career.
Could Hamlin take the Martin Truex Jr. route? Retire after a couple of seasons and spend time with his family? Only time will tell.
The post Hamlin Household in Dire Need of Some “Denny Time” as The JGR Driver Complains About his NASCAR Career appeared first on EssentiallySports.