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NASCAR Driver Is Planning To Skip Race For Birth Of His Child

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Feb 5, 2025 3:14 PM ET

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is about to begin, and the goal for Denny Hamlin remains the same as the last several years - to win his first career championship.

Hamlin, a 20-year veteran in the Cup Series, has done just about everything a driver can do in the sport except win a title.

He's a three-time Daytona 500 winner and has over 50 total wins in his career, and won a regular season championship as a team owner last year with 23XI Racing and Tyler Reddick.

Hamlin will look to win that elusive driver's title this season, but he also has exciting personal news on the way. The 44-year-old driver is expecting a child with his fiance Jordan Fish, who is due to give birth around the beginning of June.

The only issue? The Coca-Cola 600, one of the most prestigious races on the NASCAR calendar, takes place during Memorial Day weekend.

During a recent episode of his podcast "Actions Detrimental," Hamlin expressed his joy over welcoming a new child, and explained what his plan of action is for that particular race weekend.

“I’ve got another one coming. I’m three-for-three. Another baby. We’re really, really excited. Due June 1st-ish. So, right around Charlotte weekend, hopefully we can get that thing popped out somewhere around then,” he said on the show.

When Hamlin was asked if he would be with his fiance during delivery instead of at the track, he said "Yeah, of course."

He then referenced the new rule in the Cup Series that will allow drivers to miss a race for the birth of a child without needing a waiver.

WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 07: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, celebrates in victory lane with girlfriend Jordan Fish after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International on August 7, 2016 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

“There’s a new rule though, right? You can miss a race for a birth and not lose your playoff points, or have to get a waiver?," Hamlin asked, looking to apply the new rule to his situation this summer.

"I’m going to need the cliff notes on all the new rule stuff, and we’ll go over that next week. But yeah, that’s good news. It seems like nowadays, though, that they can pretty much time whenever it happens. Yeah, like — they can they can make that — make it come out, whenever."

It seems that Hamlin won't have to make the choice between competing or spending a special moment with his family later this year.

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

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