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Denny Hamlin Sends Clear Message Before Sunday's Cup Series Race

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated May 31, 2025 7:24 PM ET

Less than 24 hours out from tomorrow's NASCAR Cup Series race, Denny Hamlin's status remains up in the air.

According to The Athletic's Jeff Gluck, Hamlin's baby boy is expected to be born on Sunday and he maintains that if the baby arrives anywhere near the 7 PM race window in Nashville his No. 11 car will not be taking the track.

With that said though, Hamlin says he has yet to make a decision on when that cutoff will be for him to potentially pull out of the race at Nashville Superspeedway.

.@dennyhamlin's baby boy is due tomorrow. Denny said this afternoon he will not race if the baby arrives in that race window because that's his priority. But he has not determined yet what time his decision deadline would be tomorrow.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 31, 2025

Joe Gibbs Racing reportedly has a replacement on standby in the event that Hamlin isn't able to give it a go.

Per Dustin Long of NBC Sports, "Ryan Truex will be here at Nashville with Denny Hamlin on baby watch. … the 11 team was scheduled to do the Iowa tire test next week but teammate Chase Briscoe will do it now."

Adding, "Corey Heim is in the 67 this weekend in Cup for 23XI … also Ryan Truex is the JGR reserve driver for situations where one of its drivers may have to miss some track time."

This will be Hamlin and his fiancee Jordan Fish's third child together (and first son). The JGR driver will reportedly be granted a playoff waiver if he's forced to miss the race.

The birth of a child, along with health emergencies and family emergencies are also instances where a NASCAR driver can apply for a waiver in a points race.

Hamlin currently sits at sixth in the points standings (390), two points behind 23XI's Tyler Reddick (392) who won the Cup Series regular season last year.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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