NASCAR star Denny Hamlin confirms Cup Series absence from Mexico race

Denny Hamlin has confirmed that he will be absent from this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series race at Mexico City.

The veteran racer had admitted earlier this week that he was in line to miss the race, with his fiancee Jordan Fish pregnant with their third child.

Hamlin announced on social media on Thursday afternoon that Fish has now given birth, and he will be away from the race this weekend to support his fiancee and new son.

The winner of last weekend's Michigan race will be replaced in Mexico City by Ryan Truex, brother of Cup Series legend Martin Truex Jr..

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Hamlin welcomes first son

In a post captioned 'See you at Pocano', Hamlin wrote: "We are happy to announce the birth of our son. Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five."

Hamlin has previously said: “I said from the very beginning, if she hasn’t had it by the time I need to leave for Mexico, then I’m not going to go to Mexico. I think that that’s the proper thing to do. But really, just letting her (Fish) call the shots. I think that’s the best thing.

"When her body and her mind says that it’s time, then that’s what we’ll do. And ultimately, I need to be there for her, during, post-(birth) and all those things. Just going to make sure I spend the proper time with her, and obviously the racing will come second this week.”

This weekend's Mexico City race will be the first points-paying race held south of the border in Cup Series history, with many clamoring for further races outside the US to increase the sport's global appeal.

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