NASCAR legend issues verdict on Denny Hamlin retirement

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr has weighed in on Denny Hamlin's future retirement and when the Joe Gibbs Racing star could call it a day.

Hamlin will not be in action in Mexico City this weekend due to family reasons, but he won last time out at Michigan to take his third victory of the 2025 season.

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In doing so, the 44-year-old became only the 10th ever driver to win a Cup Series race after hitting the 700-race milestone, and with it being his 57th Cup win of all-time, Hamlin also became the most-winningest driver ever for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Speaking after the race, Hamlin said: "It just feels good because I’m going to hate it when I’m not at the level I’m at now. I certainly will retire very, very quickly after that,"

"I’m not going to hang around and do it just to do it. This is how I want to spend my last season, is like still winning, you know? I’m going to keep going."

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Dale Earnhardt Jr issues Denny Hamlin retirement verdict

Whilst Hamlin has suggested that he will call it a day whilst still winning races during his last season, Earnhardt Jr is not convinced it will be that easy for the JGR star.

Speaking on his podcast, the NASCAR legend can't help but feel Hamlin will be tempted into driving for his own team in the future, and that he will find deciding to retire harder than he thinks.

"The guy may be looking at two years, but if he still wins three races, is he really gonna retire if he's still winning?" Earnhardt Jr questioned on his Dale Jr Download podcast.

"You don't think he'll be lured to go drive for his own team for a little while?"

Earnhardt Jr added: "I think he has a plan in his mind when he thinks he's going to retire, but I think that he's going to find out when he gets to that doorstep, it's going to be harder to do than he thinks."

Of course, Earnhardt Jr knows a thing or two about retirement, having called time on his own lengthy Cup Series career back in 2017.

Earnhardt Jr also owns his own NASCAR team, like Hamlin, and has occasionally driven for his own outfit since said Cup Series retirement, in the Xfinity Series.

Hamlin has previously suggested he would like to drive for 23XI, the team he co-owns alongside Michael Jordan, and so seeing him do so in the future is certainly not out of the realms of possibility.

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