Denny Hamlin says his new deal with JGR “mos...

Talking to the media in a Saturday press convention at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin revealed that his newest contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing may be his final.

Hamlin signed a two-year deal to continue driving the No. 11 Toyota through the 2027 season, and whereas he would not say for sure, the 44-year-old indicated that it may very well be his remaining contract extension with JGR.

“I might say most likely, most seemingly,” stated Hamlin. “Who is aware of, however most seemingly.”

Deciding when to hold up the helmet

As for the size of the deal, Hamlin stated all of it got here all the way down to what he thought made probably the most sense for himself. He has spent the whole thing of his NASCAR Cup profession with JGR, courting again to the 2005 season.

“For me, it is all I really feel snug with,” stated Hamlin. “Three years? Who is aware of what can occur three years from now, so I simply wish to guarantee that I get them (Joe Gibbs Racing) correct time and ensure I decide to them for not one yr, a number of years. Allow them to attempt to construct proceed to construct this system. No explicit motive apart from, if I used to be 26, I might take 10 years, however I simply I wish to guarantee that I am nonetheless at my peak type in my remaining yr. That may very well be tailing off for 3 years, so I do not need that.”

When these two years are up, what is going to Hamlin think about earlier than deciding if he desires to hold up the helmet or not? In keeping with the veteran driver, the 2 most important elements can be the place the group is at and the way aggressive Hamlin feels he proceed to be behind the wheel.

“All these issues are simply huge elements in it, however I simply I need the flexibility to know I can win my final race,” continued Hamlin. “That is going to be the deciding issue. I am not going to attend till I begin to head downward after which retire. I do not wish to undergo a complete yr. I perceive if it simply occurs naturally within the second half of the ultimate yr, then it simply occurs, however I do not wish to should undergo one other season, if I am beginning to tail off the top of subsequent yr, I’ll simply retire. I may retire at any time when I wish to retire, so I believe that I’m simply going to see how issues go.”

What else does Hamlin need out of his profession?

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Pictures

Regardless of fears of slowing down, Hamlin stays a extremely aggressive driver on observe, main all drivers with 4 wins this yr. He’s presently simply two wins away from cracking the highest ten on the all-time wins checklist. So, apart from a championship, what else does Hamlin need out of his Corridor of Fame profession?

“Simply extra crown jewels,” stated Hamlin. “I don’t know precisely what number of I’ve now. Seven? So, if I can get (to) eight or 9, I do not know if that adjustments a lot, however it definitely makes me really feel a little bit higher. It’s a must to have objectives, and people crown jewels can be one which you realize we go to races like this (Brickyard 400), they are going to discuss ones that individuals which have received right here at this race observe and received crown jewel occasions. I wish to be excessive on the crown jewel checklist of winners.”

As for longevity, there are few drivers who can say they’ve raced for a similar group for 20 straight years. At present, Hamlin is the one driver within the Cup Sequence who can say that. He stated the connection with JGR means “rather a lot” to him, crediting them for every part he now has as we speak.

“They’re those that went out on a limb and employed me after I had nothing,” stated Hamlin. “They took an opportunity on me and JD (Gibbs) clearly believed in me fairly a bit. So yeah, you wish to pay again that loyalty to the household that gave you that begin and you realize, it will be properly over 20 years that I will be with them and could not think about racing for every other group, a lot much less household.”