By David Morgan, Associate Editor
Baby watch is officially over for Denny Hamlin as it was announced on Thursday that the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota would miss this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City after the recent birth of his son.
As a result, the team will employ Ryan Truex this weekend in a substitute capacity.
Since the race weekend at Nashville two weeks ago, Hamlin and JGR have been on baby watch with Truex waiting in the wings should the call come to pull Hamlin away. With the logistics of racing in another country, Hamlin made the decision to stay back in North Carolina to care for his family.
“We are happy to announce the birth of our son,” Hamlin said. “Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five.
“I appreciate everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, our partners, and our fans for the support over the last few weeks and I look forward to being back at the track next weekend in Pocono.”
Hamlin has won three races thus far in the 2025 Cup Series season, most recently last Sunday at Michigan, and currently sits third in the standings. JGR noted in its release that it intends to apply for a Playoff waiver for Hamlin to maintain the 18 Playoff points he has already accumulated this season.
Sunday’s absence will also be the first race that Hamlin has missed since March 2014, when health issues sidelined him from a race at Auto Club Speedway.
When the green flag drops on the Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Truex will be making his first Cup Series start since Chicago in September 2014.
The 33-year-old is a three-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, all with JGR, whom he has raced with on a part-time basis since 2022.
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