“I work so freaking hard I do feel bad.” Denny Hamlin said these words recently, and they might baffle you. Is the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran disliking hard work? Things do not seem to match up. After all, the No. 11 driver overcame a storm of doubts about his career in the off-season just through hard work. Hamlin clinched two back-to-back victories in Martinsville and Darlington, and fell just short of a third in Bristol. However, those are the very things that sometimes block his pillars of emotional support.
While a passionate racer on NASCAR tracks, Denny Hamlin is also a loving husband, father, and son. What is more, he and his wife Jordan Fish are expecting a fourth member in their lovely household. They have two adorable daughters, Molly and Taylor. At present, Hamlin’s presence is much-needed. And he fulfilled that need duly on an off-weekend.
Denny Hamlin’s wild adventure with loved ones
Growing up, the JGR driver did not have it easy. Denny Hamlin had to grapple with financial instability when he was just dreaming about becoming a NASCAR driver. At the time, his parents were his pillars of support. Hamlin’s father, Dennis, worked at Great Dane Trailers and later opened Chesterfield Trailer & Hitch in 1996. His mother, Mary Lou, was posted at AAA Travel for 33 years. Despite their modest incomes, they supported Hamlin through thick and thin. It is mainly due to their efforts that Hamlin now stands as a future NASCAR Hall of Famer with 56 Cup Series victories in his arsenal. So while deciding to spend some quality time with his family, Hamlin also determined to help his dad on an adventure.
The NASCAR Cup Series did not race this past weekend, as the Craftsman Truck and the Xfinity Series ventured to Rockingham Speedway. And Denny Hamlin made plans accordingly. In a series of Instagram stories, Jordan Fish revealed Dennis Hamlin’s fishing hobby. In the first video, Hamlin Sr was holding a big fish, but being satisfied in scoring the catch, he hurled it back into the lake to the dismay of one of his grandkids. Then he caught an unlikely prey on his bait – a baby reptile. Hamlin Sr grabbed it to prepare to release him. Denny Hamlin was seen cautioning his father, “Don’t put your hands near his (mouth). You just hold him tight.” Then Hamlin cut the bait hook from the reptile’s mouth, as his father posed to take a picture.
Denny Hamlin, with girlfriend Jordan Fish and their daughter Tammy, celebrate his win in the Can-Am Duel at Daytona 2 on February 23, 2017, in Daytona, Florida.
Jordan Fish’s other stories displayed the other wonderful activities that the Hamlin household did over the weekend. Ranging from little Molly digging into ice cream to Jordan’s beautifully curated Easter buckets, the powerhouse family had a jam-packed weekend. The fun will rise multifold as soon as Denny Hamlin and his wife welcome their third child. In December 2024, they rolled out their happy announcement in a Christmas post on Instagram. The caption read, “The more, the Merrier. Merry Christmas.” Clearly, Hamlin’s duties in his household will increase manifold.
But you may be sure to see the JGR veteran adopt those duties seamlessly. That is due to Denny Hamlin’s top-notch work ethic at the racetrack.
Hamlin’s secret for beating ‘your favorite driver’
We all know Denny Hamlin’s famous slogan after the 2023 playoff race in Bristol is still catchy. Even after spending two decades in NASCAR and undergoing several eras of Cup cars, Hamlin’s confidence remains unmatched. No matter who his competitor is – be it 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson or his own teammate Christopher Bell – Hamlin challenges everyone. However, he also acknowledges his rivals’ superior ability. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that I’m not going to win these races on raw talent anymore,” he admitted recently. So Hamlin resorts to his father’s old lesson. Growing up, Hamlin Sr. made Denny maintain and clean his go-kart, which was his dad’s condition for pursuing his passion.
Denny Hamlin pursues that work ethic even in the present day. He balances his racing duties at JGR, his team owner’s responsibility at 23XI Racing, and his family duties easily. While preparing for races every weekend, he spends as much time on the simulator as do his rivals. Hamlin confessed recently, “I only trust myself to do it. I don’t know why. That’s just the control freak in me to want to have everything absolutely perfect. I put a lot of work in. It’s for the benefit of all Joe Gibbs Racing. They reap the benefits.” Even Joe Gibbs lauded his old-time driver: “I think Denny has a real drive, and I think we’re fortunate to have him.”
Evidently, Denny Hamlin is not going to back out of any duty just because one side is weighing too much on his shoulders. As the 2024 season pushes forward, we cannot wait for him to bring more success to the racetrack.
The post Denny Hamlin Stands by His Word, Fulfilling His Family’s Demand of “Denny Time” in His Week Away From NASCAR appeared first on EssentiallySports.