Denny Hamlin backup driver revealed amid baby watch at Nashville Superspeedway

This weekend could be a big one for Denny Hamlin, and I’m not even talking about the action on the NASCAR track this Sunday. Hamlin and his fiancée, Jordan Fish, are expecting their third child to be born at any time, their first baby boy.

NASCAR drivers are no strangers to dealing with in-season births. The standard is to have a backup driver on standby and hope that the baby can wait until Monday. In case the baby boy shows up today or tomorrow, Hamlin has his backup driver picked.

Ryan Truex, younger brother of Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., is a driver who should absolutely be in a ride full-time in the Truck or Xfinity Series. He likely deserves a start or two in the Cup Series as well. Since 2023, Truex has made 18 starts in the Xfinity Series, and he has three wins. He had two wins in 2024 alone.

Dustin Long of NBC Sports shared the news about Truex being on standby. He is hanging out with the No. 11 team, and in case they need him, he’s ready to go. Denny Hamlin will no longer participate in the Iowa tire test next week, either. Chase Briscoe will represent Joe Gibbs Racing instead.

#NASCAR … Ryan Truex will be here at Nashville with Denny Hamlin on baby watch. … the 11 team was scheduled to do the Iowa tire test next week but teammate Chase Briscoe will do it now.

— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) May 31, 2025

For those wondering, yes, Denny Hamlin would be granted a playoff waiver if he were to miss a race. One of the valid excused absences from a points race is the birth of a child. Other exceptions include a driver not being old enough to run bigger tracks, which doesn’t really apply to the Cup Series. Health emergencies and family emergencies are also excused.

Denny Hamlin trying to thread the needle at Nashville

With the birth of his son coming at any moment, this will be a delicate situation for Denny Hamlin to take on. Of course, he will leave and be with his family in case the baby is born this weekend, but I imagine he would like to do it all.

Last year in Nashville, Hamlin had great speed. He passed Ross Chastain late in regulation to take the lead and was looking at a win. Then the overtimes started. Drivers ran out of fuel. Drivers spun out. It was a messy situation.

Could Hamlin pull off the perfect weekend? Get the win in the Cup Series, and then hope that the baby comes right after. Maybe not right after, given how late it will be by the end of the race on Sunday, but a nice Monday or Tuesday birth would be ideal for Hamlin and his team.

Then again, you can’t control nature. Denny Hamlin is going to be a three-time dad here soon, his first son. No matter what happens this week or next, that’s a win.