Denny Hamlin addresses retirement, how much longer he can compete at high level

They say Father Time comes for everybody; it’s no different in NASCAR. Most drivers see decline in their 40s and yet, here’s Denny Hamlin — age 44 — still fast and still winning races in the Cup Series.

How long will Hamlin’s excellence at this level last is the question. Mark Martin was productive into his 50s. Kevin Harvick hardly showed any fall-off up until his retirement at age 47. Hamlin said while it’s different for everyone, he still has the drive to compete and as long as he does, he’s going to continue.

Denny Hamlin is 44 years old. How much longer can he race at a Cup-winning level? His thoughts: @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/3FRvh26Ya5

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 13, 2025

“I think people like Harvick, I think he was 48 when he retired. Like, he was still on top of his game as far as I was concerned,” Hamlin said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “I think it’s different for everyone. Others you’ve seen get to 43 or 44 and the light switch goes off. You just never know. My drive is still there and obviously the performance is still there. I’m gonna try to just win all I can this window while it is still there.

“Mark Martin did it when he was 50 and was fantastic. There’s no way I’ll ever make it that far but again, everyone’s body, mind and eyesight are all different and it goes away at different times.”

Denny Hamlin teases retirement, plans to race after JGR

Hamlin hasn’t experienced any fall-off to this point. He won at Martinsville two Sundays ago and took the checkered flag once more at Darlington last Sunday. With 56 Cup wins, Hamlin is up 11th on the all-time wins list, four away from matching Harvick for 10th.

But one day, Hamlin will decide he’s done. Talking to Dale Earnhardt Jr. this week on the “Dale Jr. Download,” Hamlin said he would like to drive for his own team, 23XI Racing, before he retires.

“Not right now. I mean, you always have to plan for it, and you want to give the team proper time to come up with their next plan as well,” Hamlin said. “I think that running some at 23XI is something that I’d like to do. You know, Joe Gibbs Racing’s been amazing to me over the 20 years that I’ve been with them. Just fantastic, couldn’t be any better. Joe and that whole group has just been amazing.

“But you know, there’s certain things that are different. I do have a race team. You know, I really would like – even if I phased out and ran some there, that would be a cool goal of mine. Just whatever it is. Five races, 25, whatever it might be. It’d be a cool way to phase out instead of just stopping. I think I’d have a tough time just stopping. But I want to be competitive when I do it. I don’t want to do it when I’m passed my prime of winning. However that timing works, that’s how I would like for it to work, but you don’t always get to decide.”