Silly Season: NASCAR Insiders riff on Denny Hamlin contract status with Joe Gibbs Racing

Denny Hamlin is in one of the more fascinating positions of any NASCAR Cup Series wheelman. He’s become an elder statesman at Joe Gibbs Racing as a driver, but he’s also an owner with 23XI Racing.

Many have theorized Hamlin could jump ship and pilot one of his own Toyotas in the future. Not so fast. Even though he’s in a contract year, Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported there’s a “high probability” that he’ll remain in the No. 11 for JGR for the foreseeable future.

“A superstar, championship-contending driver like Hamlin being in a contract year would typically generate plenty of discussion about his future. Except in this case, there is a high probability that he will re-sign with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he has spent the entirety of his 20-year career,” Bianchi wrote.

Moreover, Hamlin hammered that point home ahead of last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600: “Working on it,” Hamlin stated, regarding contract negotiations with his longtime team, per Bianchi. “Should be something done somewhat soon.”

That’s certainly welcome news for Hamlin and JGR fans. The duo has been as successful as ever in 2025, winning multiple races. A championship has been the one thing that’s eluded their partnership, but with their team already locked into the playoffs, perhaps they could elevate to that level when the time comes.

When the time comes though, Hamlin has been vocal about wanting to run some races with his own team. It might not be a full season, but the veteran wheelman won’t retire before getting behind the wheel of a 23XI Racing Toyota.

“I think that running some at 23XI is something that I’d like to do,” Hamlin told Dale Earnhardt Jr. earlier this year. “Joe Gibbs Racing’s been amazing to me over the 20 years that I’ve been with them. Just fantastic, couldn’t be any better. Joe and that whole group has just been amazing.

“But you know, there’s things that are different. I do have a race team. You know, I really would like, even if I phased out and ran some there, that would be a cool goal of mine. Just whatever it is. Five races, 25, whatever it might be. It’d be a cool way to phase out versus just stopping. I think I’d have a tough time just stopping.”

Alas, Denny Hamlin has become a pillar of NASCAR over the course of his Cup Series career. His time at Joe Gibbs Racing may be winding down, but it’s far from over, it seems.