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Michigan International Speedway – Veteran NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, fresh off his third victory of the current season at Michigan International Speedway, has publicly identified 18-year-old Brent Crews as the most probable successor to his iconic No. 11 car at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) when his full-time career eventually concludes. The statement comes as Hamlin, 45, approaches the end of his current contract, with one season remaining, and reflects on a career marked by sustained competitiveness.
Hamlin’s win at Michigan, following his victory in the exhibition All-Star Race at Dover, underscores his assertion that he is currently experiencing a peak in his driving abilities. He attributes this sustained performance to the significant advantage of extensive experience, a sentiment he shared with Motorsport.com following his Michigan triumph.
“Just experience,” Hamlin stated, explaining his current form. He drew a parallel to a conversation with fellow JGR driver Ty Gibbs, who has approximately 30-40 Cup Series starts. “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.’ 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.”
This perspective adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing speculation about Hamlin’s retirement timeline. While his current contract is set to expire after the 2025 season, his continued high level of performance, coupled with his candid remarks about the physical demands of the sport, suggests a decision is not yet finalized.
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“The weeks are a little tougher,” Hamlin admitted in a post-race interview on Prime Video, referencing the physical toll of racing. “I feel as though there’s three things that happen: 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 willingness to revisit his retirement plans closer to the end of his contract. “At the end of next year… I told him just check with me in six months. Check with me in six months,” he said, 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 publicly expressed his desire for Hamlin to continue his career, even offering a hypothetical five-year extension. Gibbs conveyed his sentiments to Motorsport.com, stating, “I joke with him, we have a five-year deal ready, but really no, I’m dead serious. 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. 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 contract, Gibbs responded, "Never say never is a good way to put it, yes."
Brent Crews, the prospective successor, is a highly regarded young talent within the motorsport community. At just 18 years old, he has already demonstrated significant promise. His racing resume includes six victories in the ARCA Menards Series. Upon becoming eligible to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at age 18, Crews joined the JGR organization and has been a consistent contender for wins.
In his 16 starts in the ARCA Menards Series, Crews has secured five top-5 finishes. His development has been closely monitored and praised by industry insiders, who have highlighted his diligent approach to racing and his remarkable adaptability across different series and car types. His progression through the ranks, culminating in this potential elevation to the Cup Series with one of NASCAR’s premier teams, signals a significant future for the young driver.
Hamlin’s career with Joe Gibbs Racing has been one of the most successful in modern NASCAR history. Since his debut in 2005, he has accumulated 52 Cup Series wins, including the 2016 Daytona 500, and has been a consistent championship contender, reaching the Championship 4 multiple times. His tenure with the No. 11 car has cemented his status as a team legend, making any transition a significant moment for JGR.
Joe Gibbs Racing, a storied organization founded by former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, boasts a formidable record in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team has secured 199 Cup Series wins and four championships with drivers like Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, and Kyle Busch. The continued development of young talent like Crews alongside established stars such as Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., and Christopher Bell underscores JGR’s commitment to maintaining its competitive edge.
The current season has seen Hamlin perform at a level that challenges the notion of impending retirement. His statistical performance remains robust, indicating that his physical and mental faculties are still at the forefront of the sport. However, the acknowledgment of the physical challenges associated with elite-level racing by a driver of Hamlin’s experience provides a realistic perspective on the long-term sustainability of such performance.
The timeline for Hamlin’s ultimate departure from full-time competition remains fluid, but his candid remarks about Brent Crews suggest a proactive approach by JGR to ensure a seamless transition. Crews’s rapid ascent and impressive early results indicate he possesses the raw talent and maturity to potentially fill the significant shoes left by Hamlin. The coming months will likely bring further clarity on Hamlin’s future plans and the readiness of Crews to step into the spotlight of the NASCAR Cup Series.
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