Denny Hamlin explains being a winner today vs. 15 years ago: 'The kids don't care if you're hungover'

There are stories of how NASCAR drivers celebrate into the early morning hours and sometimes even for a couple of days after wins. Denny Hamlin has had his fair share of blowouts after winning in the Cup Series. How does he celebrate now?

I don’t think it is a secret that Denny Hamlin was a bit of a partier in his younger days. Now engaged and with three children, he appears to have slowed down everywhere but on the race track.

Are Denny’s days of partying behind him? Sort of. Now with a newborn son, Hamlin isn’t trying to risk a hangover on Monday morning.

“I don’t have a headache the next day,” Hamlin told Dale Earnhardt Jr. and TJ Majors on the Dale Jr. Download. The driver shared a laugh with the podcast duo.

“Ah, f**k, I know I was fun. I get it, I used to be fun. But I can tell ya, the kids, and certainly the baby, don’t give two s**ts whether you’re hungover or not. And when you’re feeling horrible and all you want is damn Powerade and a grilled cheese sandwich, like it just, they don’t care. I don’t do much. I usually try to wait til midweek, and then me and the boys will go have dinner, and then we’ll go to like Saeed’s or something.”

So, Denny Hamlin wasn’t partying too hard after winning at Dover. Is that maturity or just age on Hamlin? Whatever he’s doing off the track is clearly having a positive effect on Sundays.

Denny Hamlin has four wins, wants Brickyard 400

This season has gone very well for Denny Hamlin. He appears to be the best late-race driver in the series in 2025. Hamlin and his pit crew have stolen a couple of wins this season at least.

At Darlington, William Byron dominated. Hamlin cleaned up late to take the win. He did the same thing in the fuel-saving finish at Michigan as well. You could argue that he stole the Dover win after Chase Elliott led over 200 laps. Martinsville, Hamlin just flat out owned that race.

While those four wins this season have been great, this week is a big one for Hamlin. It is the final missing jewel on his crown, the Brickyard 400.

“It certainly would complete a resume of majors and certainly, I would like to get a few more of those before my career is over with. Big race here and certainly, being part of the oval makes it a little more special as well,” Hamlin told Marty Snider of TNT Sports ahead of Friday’s practice session. “I probably was as close on the road course as I was on the oval here at this track. Just had so many close calls over the years and just never been able to get to the checkered first. Certainly, would love to do that this weekend.”

Is the fifth win of the season around the corner for Denny Hamlin? With how good he has been lately, I wouldn’t doubt it.