Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, Denny Hamlin attributes his opportunity for a career in NASCAR Sprint Cups with Joe Gibbs Racing to J.D. Gibbs, the son of legendary NFL Coach and Race Team owner/founder Joe Gibbs.

In 1997 and again in 2004 the race team owner Joe Gibbs passed-off the JGR race team leadership and co-chairman to then team President, J.D. Gibbs when his father Joe Gibbs went back to the NFL for another stint of coaching the Washington Redskins. Telling his son “Don’t screw it up.”

It wasn’t long after that J.D. Gibbs had discovered Denny Hamlin and told his dad about him. Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs gave Denny Hamlin a shot, and now years later it sure has worked out for both Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing.

Shown above Denny Hamlin with Joe Gibbs, photo credit @DennyHamlin on Instagram.

Denny Hamilin says “I’m fortunate to be with Joe Gibbs Racing, but I’m also unfortunate to be teammates with Kyle Busch, probably the most talented driver” to compete against that is also on the Joe Gibbs Racing team.

Hamlin now having won 37 times in 14 years of racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the JGR team with several years under the spearhead leadership of J.D. Gibbs and crew. Hamlin was on fire in 2019 winning a total of 6 races, finishing 4th overall in the points race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Despite Denny Hamlin being his 5 year elder and having more race wins than his 2019 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship teammate Kyle Busch (who has been) the golden child of new age NASCAR racing for the past several years.

 Photo credit CBS SPORTS / featured on WORLD SPORTS TALE

Joe Gibbs Racing’s younger NASCAR legend Kyle “Rowdy” Busch was still the 2019 NASCAR points leader and was crowned the NASCAR Sprint Cup champion once again. Fellow teammate Martin Truex Jr. also in Joe Gibbs Racing rounds out 3 of their top drivers in the garage, having more than 19 combined race wins among: Busch, Hamlin and Truex Jr.

Joe Gibbs Racing has a rich legacy that goes back to 1991-1992 when Joe Gibbs began exploring the opportunity to own a race team with Don Meredith.

Tony Stewart NASCAR legend was the original driver for the JGR team, driving at the time the #20 Home Depot car.

Joe Gibbs Racing then adding the FedEx #11 and Denny Hamlin to the team in 2005. Hamlin a 2x Daytona 500 winner and 13-time playoff points qualifier still has his sights set on winning a NASCAR championship!

 Photo credit DERIK HAMILTON / AP

Could this be the year Denny Hamlin wins a NASCAR Championship? Let us know your thoughts tag us on social @rigidaxle

Hamlin feels happy and fortunate to even be in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and says, “I never imagined I would be here in the first place,” acknowledging J.D. Gibbs and the Gibbs family for the opportunity to race for them in the Xfinity Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

“I will always be grateful for what his family did for mine and the opportunity he gave me 14 years ago,” Hamlin wrote in a tweet.

Gibbs, Hamlin, Stewart, family and the rest of the JGR team unfortunately lost the beloved J.D. Gibbs on January 11, 2019, to a degenerative neurological disease. A somber appreciative father, Joe Gibbs speaks of the importance his eldest son had for the team as a whole and the dedication J.D. had for his profession. “I just want to say J.D. spent his entire professional life building our race team… This whole year I think is just a tribute to him.” Joe Gibbs said about his son J.D. Gibbs.

Tony Stewart also wrote on social media. “J.D. was a great person – a family man who loved sports & racing in particular. He played a big part in my career, both as a driver & as a team owner. When he asked how you were doing, he genuinely cared. I’ll miss that the most.”

In 2019 Joe Gibbs Racing helped Toyota clinch their third manufacturers championship with Denny Hamlin’s win at ISM Raceway and in 2020 Joe Gibbs was inducted into the NASCAR Hall Of Fame.

This year is looking bright for Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR drivers Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Martin Treux Jr. each of which has a shot at becoming the 2020 NASCAR Champion.

Your 2020 NASCAR season kicks-off as always in Daytona Beach for the Daytona 500. Hamlin a 2x Daytona 500 winner will likely be a favorite to take the checkered flag and then it’s on to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the 2020 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Pennzoil 400.

That’s right!! The FedEx #11, JGR car that’s going to be racing is Las Vegas is coming to North Las Vegas on Feb. 20th, 2020 to hear the engines roar email us for more info at socialmedia@rigidaxle.com.

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