Joe Gibbs Racing confirms backup plan for Denny Hamlin Mexico City absence amid baby watch

There’s a chance that Denny Hamlin doesn’t compete in Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Hamlin’s fiancée Jordan Fish is due to give birth to the couple’s third child and first son.

Hamlin said Tuesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that if Fish doesn’t deliver their son by the time he has to leave for Mexico City, he will not make the trip. Hamlin’s priority is to be alongside Fish for the delivery of their third child. Drivers are set to depart Thursday for Mexico City for Sunday’s race. NASCAR will grant Hamlin a playoff waiver if he misses Sunday’s race as the absence would be listed as a medical reason.

Should that scenario play out, Ryan Truex Jr. will be behind the wheel of the No. 11 Toyota in Mexico City, per Joseph Srigley of TobyChristie.com. Truex, the backup driver this past Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, has 26 Cup Series starts under his belt. None have come since 2014. That being said, Truex has been working on the sim and feels ready to step in if called upon.

“He’s been working in the sim to get acclimated,” Hamlin said this past weekend at Michigan. “I was worried about him reaching my pedals first of all. But it sounds like he fits fine. If they had overnight to adjust it, if that’s the case, if I get called tonight, they’ll be able to move the pedals back to make it all fit right for him. But overall, we’re basically the same kind of body size, so he’ll take over.”

Denny Hamlin finalizes plan for Mexico City

Hamlin and Fish have been anticipating their son’s arrival for the past couple weeks. Hamlin made it through the last two races without getting a phone call. But if Fish delivers in the next day or two, Hamlin will be out for Mexico City.

“I said from the very beginning that if she hasn’t had it by the time I need to leave for Mexico, then I’m not going to go to Mexico. I think that’s the proper thing to do,” Hamlin told Danielle Trotta and Larry McReynolds. “But really, I’m just letting her call the shots. I think that’s the best thing. When her body and her mind says it’s the best time, then that’s what we’ll do.

“Ultimately, I need to be there for her during post and all those things. Just gonna make sure I spend the proper time with her and obviously, the racing will come second this week.”