Denny Hamlin has announced that he will not race in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event in Mexico City, choosing instead to stay home and support his fiancée Jordan and their family following the birth of their son on June 11.
This marks the first Cup race Hamlin will miss in over a decade.
A Family First Decision
Hamlin shared the news on Thursday, saying his top priority right now is his family. “We are happy to announce the birth of our son. Everyone is doing well,” Hamlin said.
“My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family for the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five.”
He explained that international travel made it harder to balance racing and family responsibilities, especially with the added complications of traveling to Mexico.
“It’s one thing when you’re in Michigan… It’s not that in Mexico,” Hamlin said on his podcast Actions Detrimental.
Who Will Replace Hamlin?
Ryan Truex, younger brother of 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr., will step in to drive the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Ryan Truex is the team’s reserve driver and last competed in the Cup Series back in 2014.
Truex has three wins in the Xfinity Series and last attempted to qualify for a Cup race in 2019 at the Daytona 500.
Hamlin’s Playoff Status and Recent Achievements
Joe Gibbs Racing will apply for a waiver to keep Hamlin eligible for the NASCAR playoffs. NASCAR rules allow full-time drivers to apply for such waivers if they miss races due to injury or significant personal events, like the birth of a child.
Hamlin currently sits third in the Cup Series standings, with three wins this season at Martinsville, Darlington, and Michigan. He has seven top-five finishes and eight top-10s in just 15 races.
His most recent win at Michigan was also his 57th career Cup victory, placing him 11th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. He is now only three wins away from tying Kevin Harvick for 10th place.
End of a Long Streak
Sunday’s race will break Hamlin’s 406-race streak of consecutive Cup starts, which began after he missed a race in March 2014 due to a sinus infection. Just two weeks ago, he celebrated his 700th career Cup start at Nashville.
Denny Hamlin’s decision to miss the Mexico City race highlights how family moments take priority, even for top athletes. While his absence ends a long streak, Hamlin’s current season remains strong, and he’ll likely be back on track soon.
In the meantime, all eyes will be on Ryan Truex as he gets a rare opportunity to return to the Cup Series.
