Denny Hamlin has revealing comments after signing extension

NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin has revealing comments about his future after signing extension

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 10:29 PM ET

The fat lady is yet to serenade Denny Hamlin's NASCAR career, but she's slowly beginning to warm up.

On Friday, it was announced that Hamlin signed a two-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing — an extension Hamlin says is "most likely" the final one of a career that has spanned two decades.

Should 2027 be Hamlin's final season, it would be his 22nd year of full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition.

Hamlin, 44, is a 58-time Cup Series winner and leads the series with four victories this season. Even in the twilight of his career, Hamlin is one of the best drivers in the garage — and that's completely intentional.

"The ability to win week in and week out, that's a high motivating factor in wanting to do this," Hamlin said in a news conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday. "Certainly, as competitive as I am, I'm motivated by being able to win."

"Who knows what could happen three years from now?," Hamlin said when asked about why he didn't opt for a longer deal. "I just want to make sure I give them (Joe Gibbs Racing) proper time, make sure I commit to them for not one year, (but) multiple years, let them continue to try and build the program. But no particular reason — if I was 26 I would take 10 years. I want to make sure I'm still at peak form in my final year."

Hamlin will go for first Brickyard 400 win on Sunday, and a win at Indianapolis would give him a victory in all four of NASCAR's crown jewel races.

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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