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Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to Denny Hamlin emotional 60th NASCAR Cup win at Las Vegas

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones10/16/25brianjones_93
Denny Hamlin (70)
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his reaction to Denny Hamlin being emotional after earning his 60th NASCAR Cup Series win at Las Vegas last weekend. On Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt talked about Hamlin, who is dealing with the health of his father.

“He wins 60 races, which was very important to him. His dad hasn’t been feeling well over the last year or two,” Dale Earnhardt said about Hamlin. I think that’s been tough for Denny to manage. When you get to a certain age, for the majority of us, you don’t have to face that hard reality of loss early in life. Your parents, your grandparents, if things go the traditional route, you won’t really have to deal with what that feels like and what that emotion feels like until you get into your late 30s and mostly in your 40s and 50s.

“That’s where Denny is in his life, and he’s having to deal with losing somebody, or the possibility of losing somebody that means the world to him, that is maybe single-handedly responsible for the life that Denny’s been able to have. And it’s been a hell of a life.”

Denny Hamlin wanted his father to see his 60th win

Denny Hamlin became one of 11 drivers to have at least 60 career NASCAR Cup Series victories. He is tied for 10th on the all-time list with Kevin Harvick and three wins away from tying Kyle Busch for ninth place.

During his post-race press conference on Sunday, Hamlin discussed his father’s health and how he impacted his career.

“Yeah, just not doing well, not feeling well,” he said. “He’s the one that got me into racing. Just took me to a racetrack when I was five. Then made all the sacrifices financially to keep me going. Sold everything they had. We almost lost our house a couple times. Just tried to keep it all going. So I’m glad he was able to see 60. That was super important to me.”

Hamlin has now won six races this season, the most out of any Cup Series driver. Additionally, the 44-year-old has clinched one of the four spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2. Hamlin is looking to win the first Cup Series title in his career.