Denny Hamlin could race for 23XI Racing full-time before retiring from NASCAR

As a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owner of 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin is in an interesting position regarding his future on the track. Many have speculated that Hamlin could leave JGR for his own NASCAR team one day, and that might be true.

When Denny Hamlin set out to start his own team with basketball GOAT Michael Jordan, he had a plan. Within five years he wanted to be a consistent winning program with a shot to win championships.

Last year, in Year 3 of 23XI, Bubba Wallace made the Round of 12 and Tyler Reddick made the Round of 8. Reddick is seen as a driver who could make a Championship 4 this season if all goes well. So, it feels like 23XI is head of schedule.

In a conversation with Sports Business Journal, Denny Hamlin talked about the possibility of joining his own team one day. He wouldn’t make the move as a full-time driver unless he knew the equipment was as good or better than his JGR equipment. Apparently, he’s starting to feel that way,

“I’m slowly but surely starting to believe that 23XI is an equal to the position I’m in right now,” Hamlin told SBJ.

If not a full-time spot, Hamlin could take on a part-time role once he retires. Perhaps like Jimmie Johnson at Legacy Motor Club, a limited schedule with his own team and only after he moves on from JGR officially.

Denny Hamlin building his own empire with 23XI Racing

Looking at it from the outside in, it makes sense that Denny Hamlin would like to race for 23XI Racing. He has spent a ton of money, time, effort, and stretched himself professionally to make this happen. It isn’t just an upstart Cup Series organization looking to make laps – Hamlin wants to win.

There is a lot of talk about charters and the new charter agreement has yet to be negotiated. The current agreement ends when the season ends this year. What happens if 23XI buys a third charter in the next year or two? Would it be purchased for Hamlin to make his move to the team?

Of course, there is the new AirSpeed facility that the team is using now. They have their own shop and don’t rely on JGR nearly as much, if at all, at this point. While there is work to be done on the in-house pit crews, 23XI Racing is more or less competing with JGR and other top organizations in the Cup Series.

Denny Hamlin has built an organization that has all it needs. If he chooses to join as a driver, it could take the team to another level. He is one of the best drivers that has ever raced in NASCAR, and he still has a few years left in his career. Will he join 23XI in the next couple of years?