Denny Hamlin

James Dennis Alan Hamlin (born November 18, 1980) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. He also co-owns and operates 23XI Racing with basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. As a driver, Hamlin has achieved a total of 64 NASCAR Cup Series victories. His notable wins include the Coca-Cola 600 in 2022, the Southern 500 in 2010, 2017, and 2021, and the Daytona 500 in 2016, 2019, and 2020. He is also one of five drivers in history to win the Daytona 500 in back-to-back seasons, joining the ranks of Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin, and William Byron. Widely regarded as the greatest driver in NASCAR history to never have won a championship, Hamlin holds the record for the most wins in the NASCAR Cup Series without winning a championship. Despite not securing a title, he has reached the NASCAR Cup Series Chase 20 times out of his 21 seasons (as of 2026), missing only in 2013, when a collision caused an injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of the early season. Hamlin drew attention right from his 2006 rookie season, when he finished third overall and won Rookie of the Year.