Denny Hamlin, who has raced his entire Cup career with Joe Gibbs Racing, has signed a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.
The 44-year-old Hamlin made his Cup debut in 2005 with Joe Gibbs Racing. He is the team’s all-time Cup winner with 58 victories in 706 starts. He’s coming off his victory last weekend at Dover. Hamlin has won three Daytona 500s with the organization.
Asked Friday why he signed only a two-year extension instead of a three-year extension, Hamlin said: “For me, it’s all I feel comfortable (with). Thinking of three years, who knows what can happen three years from now?
“I just want to make sure I give them proper time and make sure I commit to them for not one year (but) multiple years and let them continue to build the program.
“If I was 26, I would take 10 years. I want to take 10 years. I want to make sure I’m in my peak form in my final year. That could be tailing off in three years, so I don’t want that.”
When asked if this was his final contract extension, Hamlin responded: “I would say probably, most likely.”
Hamlin enters this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway fourth in the points despite missing the Mexico race for the birth of his son.
“I really appreciate Denny and everything he has meant to our organization,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, in a statement from the team. “It is just really special when you think about everything we’ve experienced over the past 20 years, from that first moment when J.D. (Gibbs) recognized his talent at a test session, until now. It is remarkable in any sport to compete at the level Denny has for this long and we are thrilled he has been able to spend his entire career with us.”
