Denny Hamlin Identifies Brent Crews as Potential Successor at Joe Gibbs Racing Amidst Continued Competitive Peak

Michigan International Speedway – Veteran NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin has publicly identified 18-year-old prospect Brent Crews as the most likely candidate to succeed him in the No. 11 car at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) when his full-time career eventually concludes. The revelation comes as Hamlin, 45, continues to perform at a remarkably high level, securing his third victory of the current season at Michigan and having also claimed the exhibition All-Star Race at Dover last month.

Hamlin, currently in the midst of what he anticipates will be his final contract, expressed confidence in his enduring competitiveness, attributing his sustained success to an invaluable accumulation of experience. "Just experience," Hamlin stated to Motorsport.com following his Michigan triumph. He elaborated on this by recounting a conversation with fellow JGR driver Ty Gibbs, who possesses significantly fewer Cup Series starts. "I was talking to Ty Gibbs before the race, and he was like ‘how many starts do you have?’ Probably 40, 30-something, 40. He’s like, man, ‘I’m at the point now where I feel like I know what I need’ and ‘I know what I’m looking for.’ And I said, ‘yeah, imagine having four times as many starts as you have.’"

Hamlin further detailed the tangible benefits of his extensive tenure in the sport. "Like, that’s the advantage I have every single week is that he feels comfortable where he’s at, but just add another 15 years of experience, and you just, you know the transitions of the track and like what happens when it gets cloudy, what happens when it gets sunny, what happens when the wind is this direction, that direction, all those things you just learn over time. It’s why we have the upper hand right now."

Despite his current form, the question of Hamlin’s retirement remains a significant point of discussion within the NASCAR community. His recent confirmation of Crews as the presumed heir apparent introduces a layer of clarity regarding JGR’s future plans, though Hamlin acknowledged the inherent challenges posed by Crews’ youth.

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"I don’t know. The weeks are a little tougher," Hamlin admitted regarding his own physical condition in a post-race interview on Prime Video. He outlined the physiological aspects of aging in professional motorsports: "You lose your eyesight, you lose your reaction and your body hurts. The body hurts are there. It’s there. During the week, I’m not recovering as quick. But the other two things are sharp. I want to go out like this. It’s a fantasy land to do it, but right now…"

Hamlin indicated a phased approach to his decision-making process regarding his future, suggesting he would re-evaluate his situation closer to the end of his current contract. "At the end of next year… I told him just check with me in six months. Check with me in six months," Hamlin stated, referring to his discussions with team owner Joe Gibbs. "I don’t want to leave them in flux. They’ve got a great driver in Brent Crews that’s gonna be ready more than likely by the end of next year. It’d be hard – if [his contract ended] right now, it’d be really hard. But I find it hard to believe we’re going to be at this level at this time next year."

Joe Gibbs, the esteemed owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, has expressed his unwavering support for Hamlin, even going as far as to suggest he would offer a five-year contract immediately if Hamlin desired. Gibbs conveyed his perspective on athletes continuing to perform at a high level. "I joke with him, we have a five-year deal ready, but really no, I’m dead serious," Gibbs told Motorsport.com. "From my standpoint, any athlete that is really performing like that, I’ve had athletes at different times in football come to me and say ‘hey coach, should I come back and try it,’ and I always give the same advice."

Gibbs continued, "When you’re still performing that way, you never look back in life. So, I’ll probably say the same thing to Denny, but yeah, we reached out with that two-year deal (through 2027) and I think we want Denny to stay with us." When pressed on the possibility of Hamlin continuing beyond his current agreement, Gibbs offered, "Never say never is a good way to put it, yes."

Brent Crews, the focal point of Hamlin’s succession plan, has garnered significant acclaim as a promising talent within the racing world. At just 18 years old, Crews has already demonstrated considerable prowess. He has secured six victories in the ARCA Menards Series and, upon becoming eligible to compete in the ARCA Menards Series East and West (formerly the O’Reilly Series), immediately contended for wins. His early career statistics in these series are impressive, boasting five top-5 finishes in 16 starts. Beyond his on-track performance, Crews has been consistently lauded for his studious approach to racing and his remarkable adaptability, qualities that have positioned him as a highly-regarded prospect for future top-tier competition.

The continuity within Joe Gibbs Racing, a team with a storied history of success in NASCAR, appears to be a strategic priority. Hamlin’s current performance trajectory, coupled with the promising development of Brent Crews, suggests a well-defined path for the organization as it navigates the inevitable transitions of veteran drivers and the emergence of new talent. The coming months will likely provide further clarity on Denny Hamlin’s ultimate retirement timeline and the full extent of Joe Gibbs Racing’s long-term vision.

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