Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes strong prediction on Denny Hamlin NASCAR future amid retirement speculation

Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t buying into the idea that Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR career is over. Following Hamlin’s heartbreaking loss in the 2025 Championship Race, one that slipped away with just about 40 seconds of green-flag racing remaining, Earnhardt spoke via The Dale Jr. Download to assure fans that the veteran driver’s story is far from finished.

“I don’t know where he goes from here,” Earnhardt admitted. “He said he doesn’t want to drive race cars right now. And I can understand that. But I’m assuming that’s a somewhat temporary emotion. He’s going to finish. He’s not going to not race. He’s got another chance. He’ll come back and they’ll run well and they’ll win races next year. He will probably win another six races.”

Earnhardt went on to say he expects Hamlin to thrive under NASCAR’s new format for 2026, which could give drivers more control over their championship prospects: “With the format we’ll have next year, he might be able to just go and just get the points,” Earnhardt said. “I think if he were sitting here, he would tell us that he feels more confident in whatever that format may be.

“I don’t know how they’re going to do it, but I think if Denny were sitting here, he would tell us, ‘Man, I’m looking forward to that. I don’t want to go do this one again. Get this one the hell out of here, and let’s go try something else.’”

Alas, for Earnhardt, the heartbreak in Phoenix could be the setup for Hamlin’s ultimate redemption arc. One straight out of a Hollywood script: “Think about it,” he said. “Imagine if Denny goes next year, like this is me trying to find that silver lining. Imagine if Denny, this is a chapter in his book, the one we just wrote. This is what movies are made of.

“He loses a championship with 40 seconds to go in the race. All he needed was 40 seconds of green-flag racing to get that title that’s been so elusive. He follows that season up with a championship year. That could be pretty incredible.”

After nearly two decades of chasing NASCAR’s top prize, Hamlin’s heartbreaks have become one of the defining aspects of his career. But if Earnhardt’s prediction proves right, the story that ended in devastation at Phoenix could set up one of the sport’s greatest comebacks, and perhaps the long-awaited championship Hamlin has been chasing.