Longtime NASCAR Star Is Teasing Possible Retirement

Even as NASCAR's oldest Cup Series driver, Denny Hamlin is showing no signs of slowing down.

The 44-year-old vaulted to second in the season standings following back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Darlington. Hamlin will hope to end his 21st season with his first career Cup Series crown.

Hamlin won Sunday's Goodyear 400 driving a paint scheme that honored Carl Edwards, who retired at age 37. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who retired from full-time racing at 42 years old, asked Hamlin if he's giving much thought to stepping aside.

"Not right now," Hamlin said on the Dale Jr. Download podcast (h/t On3). "I mean, you always have to plan for it, and you want to give the team proper time to come up with their next plan as well." 

Although Joe Gibbs Racing has been "amazing" to him, Hamlin said at some point he'd like to drive for 23XI Racing. He called it "a cool goal" to compete in some capacity, even if only a few races, for the team he co-owns with basketball icon Michael Jordan.

Hamlin thinks it will be difficult to leave NASCAR for good, but he also doesn't want to overstay his welcome.

"I think I'd have a tough time just stopping, but I want to be competitive when I do it," Hamlin added. "I don't want to do it when I'm already past my prime of winning. However that timing works, that's how I would like for it to work, but you don't always get to decide."