Carl Edwards praises Denny Hamlin, Justin Marks as current NASCAR standouts

2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee, Carl Edwards has been out of the sport for a while, but he’s keeping tabs on a few people. Denny Hamlin and Justin Marks, for starters.

NASCAR looks different than it did when Carl Edwards was still behind the wheel. A lot is still the same, but there have been new owners and teams emerge in recent years. Two of the most prominent new teams are 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing.

Both are “disruptors” in the sport. Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI with Michael Jordan, Marks, co-owner of Trackhouse with Pitbull. Two teams with established NASCAR figures but also outside star power and, let’s be honest, money.

For all of the hard work that Hamlin and Marks put in, Edwards notices.

“I don’t pay a ton of attention but a couple of people have really stood out to me. I mean, Dave Rogers and Denny Hamlin and all the stuff they’re doing is really interesting to me, how much success they’re having,” Edwards said in a recent interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I’ve heard some behind-the-scenes stuff about how hard Denny’s working, how much that’s paying off, and that’s really neat to see a guy – I have to admit I’m an older guy now so I see somebody like that doing it, it’s fun to watch. You know, at that level.”

Carl Edwards and Justin Marks have formed a friendship over the last few years. The soon-to-be Hall of Famer is impressed.

“Justin Marks at Trackhouse is someone who, the last five years or so, I’ve gotten to know him a little bit better as a friend and watch how he does things,” Edwards explained. “I’d say that’s the person that stands out to me in the sport that really is just moving forward, he’s doing it the right way, he cares about the sport, he tries to do things right. I’d say that’s the person that really I’m just glad to be able to keep in touch with the most.”

Carl Edwards is right. Justin Marks is doing great things in the sport of NASCAR. Denny Hamlin is as well. Both 23XI and Trackhouse will expand in the future. Fans will see a third team for both organizations soon enough.

NASCAR is changing. The sport is heading into the future and that means new and exciting teams have to emerge. 23XI and Trackhouse are doing that and more.