On baby watch, Denny Hamlin says he still has backup plans

NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

On baby watch, Denny Hamlin says he'd leave Michigan early, skip Mexico City if necessary

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 12:29 PM ET

For the second straight week, Denny Hamlin is prepared to have a back-up driver jump in his No. 11 Toyota.

Hamlin's fiance, Jordan Fish, is scheduled to have the couple's third child at any moment, which could potentially lead to Hamlin having to jump out of his No. 11 during Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan. Ryan Truex, the brother of 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., was on standby for Hamlin at Nashville a week ago and is available again this weekend at Michigan.

After Hamlin qualified third on Saturday morning, the veteran driver says he is prepared to potentially fly home to North Carolina on Saturday and travel back to Michigan on Sunday.

"I've got some meetings and whatnot here, after that (we'll) see where her symptoms are at, and if she has any, certainly, we'll go back," Hamlin told Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass.

Denny Hamlin on baby watch again this week. Ryan Truex remains as the backup. What Hamlin said today after qualifying third for the race. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/5CdH7NfC9B
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 7, 2025

Hamlin said he is prepared to leave during Sunday's race at Michigan, and should the situation call for it, could miss the June 15 race in Mexico City.

"It depends on the urgency of it, but I'm going to leave the call entirely up to her," Hamlin said regarding potentially leaving during Sunday's race at Michigan.

"If I had to, yes," Hamlin added when asked about potentially skipping the Mexico City race weekend.

Hamlin will start third in Sunday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan. (2 p.m. ET, Prime Video, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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