Denny Hamlin recalls family sacrifices, emotions after milestone win at Las Vegas

As Denny Hamlin crossed the line at Las Vegas, he was overcome with emotion as he earned his 60th career win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Most importantly, his dad is still here to see it. Hamlin has referenced his father and his recent health struggles in recent weeks. On Sunday, he went into a little more detail about it all.

NASCAR fans were introduced to Denny Hamlin’s father during season one of the Netflix series NASCAR: Full Speed. He was charming and quaint. You could see and hear the pride that Hamlin’s parents had for him and his racing career.

After his big win in Las Vegas, this time on the track and not in the casino, Hamlin talked about his family, their sacrifices, and why he shed so many tears late in the race. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was asked about his father’s health in the post-race presser.

“Yeah, just not doing well, not feeling well. He’s the one that got me into racing,” Denny Hamlin said. “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.”

Of course, drivers don’t get to pick and choose where and when they win. It happens when it happens, and they cherish it as long as they can. This was a storybook way for Hamlin to earn that 60th win. Whether it is the final chapter in this season’s story remains to be seen.

“I don’t know if I could have scripted it better,” Hamlin said of his emotions. “I don’t know, like a win at Talladega for 60 would still be awesome, but not like this. Not in the fashion I had to do it in the last 10 laps. This race, I talked about it before the weekend started, just how important this race was, right? I thought this was the most important. All of it. My friends all weekend, ‘We’re getting 60 this weekend.’

“Yeah, I mean, I guess we could. I don’t know. All of it. Just putting all the factors, I can’t imagine there’s a win bigger for me than this one. With the family, with the significance of it, now being back on top for most wins in the season, punching the ticket to the 4, all of it. The fashion in which the last 10 laps played out. All of the above is why I think this means the most.”

Denny Hamlin is now tied with Kevin Harvick for 10th in all-time wins. It happened in one of the biggest moments of the season, and depending on how Phoenix goes, his career.

Denny Hamlin said a prayer to avoid overtime restart

The post-race presser lasted 40 minutes. During that time, Denny Hamlin answered many questions and spoke about the finish, and how this race compared to others in his career.

“What you saw, that was going on for the last three laps. I did say a prayer into three with two to go for no caution. I try not to ask for prayers for things that really don’t matter, like competition,” Hamlin said, smiling. He continued, “I needed to see this one through all the way. So, I borrowed, asked for a favor on this one.”

This was one of those races that Hamlin doesn’t remember a lot about. At least, not the finish. When asked to recall those closing laps, he couldn’t. That isn’t the first time that’s happened.

“I don’t remember a whole lot about it. This reminds me a ton of my 2016 Daytona 500 where I didn’t do a whole lot. I had to go back and watch it to figure out what did I do. That was very, very similar. … I thought it was going to be a monumental task getting by Larson on the same tires. I hadn’t been faster than him on the short run all day. But I just went for it. If I wrecked, I wrecked.

“You never know when these opportunities will come up again. I made speed. I found a way to make speed when I needed to. It’s super gratifying.”

Those final 10 laps will be in Denny Hamlin’s highlight reel for the rest of his life. When you think of Hamlin in his later years, this season is going to pop up. Six wins, a Championship 4 berth, and he did it all in the quest for 60 career wins and a place in the history books. Only one thing left to do.