While Miami’s got everyone’s attention right now, there’s something about a certain little half-mile track that pulls a string with everyone’s soul, and Hamlin probably knows it the best. He’s been through the Martinsville ringer for years. Take that wild 2007 spring race with Johnson edging out Gordon in a teammate tussle that left fans wondering. Denny was right in the mix, finishing third, watching two of Hendrick’s best fight it out.
With Homestead, the focus this week is on Progressive Insurance kicking off its 18-race deal with Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry. But Martinsville is where the past whispers every time he rolls onto the track. Hendrick Motorsports has owned that place with Gordon with nine wins, and Johnson with nine more, racking up 18 grandfather clocks between them. Hamlin was no slouch either, with five of his own.
Yet, there’s something about going against the 11 championships of HMS at the track that remains special for the driver.
Hamlin told the media before Homestead practice on March 22, 2025, “Yeah, I mean my favorite memories honestly is just being every time going there being in a three horse race with myself and Jeff and Jimmie. You know it just you could just mark it down that the three of us were gonna run one, two three and or be one, two three during the course of the race, and so you know just learning so much from those guys that is just my favorite memory, which is not one single memory but just going there knowing that like I was gonna have to outdo two of the best in our sport, and it was just a really fun time.” That’s not just a memory, it’s a badge of honor, racing toe-to-toe with 11 championships.
Look at the 2009 Martinsville race. In a race with 21 lead changes, Hamlin led for over 200 laps, but he was closely contested by Jimmie Johnson, who led 164 laps. Only through Hamlin’s skill was the #11 able to get its second win at Martinsville. And it wasn’t just Johnson he was constantly fighting. A year before fighting Johnson for the win, Gordon felt the heat as Denny Hamlin beat him by 0.398 seconds for his first win at the short track.
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 29: Denny Hamlin (#11 Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Freight Direct Toyota) watches the action from pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Xfinity 500 on October 29, 2022 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
But it’s not all rosy nostalgia. Hamlin’s vocal about short tracks today with NextGen cars making passing tougher, track position ruling the day. He’s even called out NASCAR’s secretive orders at Martinsville to stop race manipulation. Chase Elliott might shrug it off, saying, “I don’t care,” but Denny’s pushing for more.
He’s got a soft spot for his hometown Southside Speedway too, hoping it revives, even if he’s not part of it. “I’m not, no. I just had some talks with it, but I kind of just left it up to the state in the county to, you know, let me know what their next steps [are]. You know how they would like me involved in the next steps, and I haven’t heard back.,” he said despite the snub from its banned owner. Owner Lin O’Neil, however, left the door open for Hamlin’s return
“We hope to have Denny’s race back here if he wants to do it. This is his home track too…Hopefully, he’ll come in and help us with some things that would be really cool to help us get it even better than it ever was. This is his home track too and before Denny retires he needs to win a race here, you know what I mean so we gotta give him that opportunity,” owner Lin O’Neil said when asked about the Southside revival.
Next week, Martinsville will stir those old feelings. Hamlin’s not just racing for points but also chasing that rush of outdueling the best. Hamlin now has new HMS rivals to parallel the old ones. Larson went toe-to-toe against him last year in the first part of the season. Could we see another rivalry shape up?
Denny Hamlin’s Heartfelt Take on NASCAR’s Changes and Team Struggles
Denny Hamlin’s got us feeling all kinds of ways right now. The guy’s been through it racing hard, leading Joe Gibbs Racing, and watching the sport he loves shift under his feet. With Homestead behind us and Martinsville on the horizon, he’s opening up about the NextGen cars, Goodyear’s tire game, and even his teammate Ty Gibbs’ rough patch.
On the NextGen evolution, he said, “The NextGen car has certainly evolved over the last couple of years and Goodyear’s behind-the-scenes efforts are a big part of why it keeps gaining momentum.” Those tires are keeping races tight, like that nail-biter at Phoenix where he finished second to Christopher Bell. It’s not just tech talk; it’s about keeping the heart of racing alive, something Denny’s fought for his whole career.
Then there’s Ty Gibbs his teammate, Joe Gibbs’ grandson, stuck in a slump. Five races into 2025, Ty’s got just one top-20 finish, a P16 at Daytona. Hamlin has witnessed everything in front of his eyes. He said, “He’s just gotta keep his head down and keep working at it because it’s going to turn eventually.” It’s tough love, not coddling, and yes it hurts to see Ty struggle while Bell’s out there winning three straight. But Denny’s been there—20 years in and he knows the grind.
Juggling his own battles and the team’s weight feels overwhelming. FedEx is gone, Progressive’s in, and he’s still chasing that elusive championship. But hearing him talk about the sport’s pulse and Ty’s fight is a reminder that NASCAR’s not just cars. It’s people, pushing through.
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