There has been a change of heart in the postseason. Denny Hamlin has always admired figures like Jimmie Johnson and Joe Gibbs, two men who have helped shape his path in NASCAR. As a young prospect, he envisioned himself driving under the latter’s banner while modelling his competitive mindset after Johnson. But over the years, the veteran driver’s perspective has shifted… (for good reason)

After the devastating Phoenix heartbreak, having fought for a championship for over 20 years, Hamlin was faced with a major decision: to call it a day or not. But after taking some time off, he confirmed his return next season. And now he has found himself increasingly connected to another driver, Carl Edwards, whose career and personal approach resonate even more closely with his own journey. The No. 11 driver cannot help but heap praise on his former teammate, who was there for him.

Denny Hamlin explains why he admires Carl Edwards

Speaking on his latest Actions Detrimental podcast, the 44-year-old couldn’t help but credit Edwards. “I had some good conversations with him, and I just he what where I feel like he has helped me here lately. When I say lately, I’m talking about over the last year would be. Understanding the bigger picture of racing is just a very small part of your life, and you’re gonna find a lot of gratification outside of that. And I just every time he talks now I’m very tuned in to what he says, because I respect him so much and I respect a guy that fought his entire life to reach the pinnacle,” Hamlin said.

Carl Edwards spent 13 seasons competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, earning 28 victories in 445 starts before his career came to an abrupt end in 2016. His final race at Homestead-Miami was heartbreaking, as he was fighting for his first championship, just like Denny Hamlin. Carl Edwards saw his title hopes disappear when Joey Logano made contact with him on a late restart, triggering the crash that cost him both the race and ultimately his place in the sport.

Edwards handled his 2016 title loss with a mix of honesty, accountability, and grace. He admitted the move was entirely on him, telling reporters, “That’s 100% on me. I think it was just racing. The way I had it figured is first of all that was the race of my life up to that point. That was a lot of fun and Joey was so good on the short run.”

Even then, Edwards refused to blame Logano, emphasizing mutual responsibility. The moment stunned the NASCAR community but also exposed something more profound about the driver. A rare sense of clarity about himself and his priorities. Knowing when to walk away isn’t an easy feat. What intrigues the driver of the No. 11 most is Edwards’ remarkable self-awareness, the ability to recognize that reaching the peak doesn’t always mean you need to keep climbing.

In the past, Hamlin hasn’t shied away from drawing parallels post-Phoenix, and now, he is a new man!

“And then got to the pinnacle and said, ‘You know what? I don’t think this is what I meant to do forever. I think there’s something else that is more for me out there.’ I don’t know if I could ever have that kind of discipline that Carl has. And it’s just I admire him so much,” Hamlin added.

The veteran’s shift in perspective has only deepened his appreciation for someone like Mark Martin, a driver whose path also closely mirrors his own. And now, as he enters the 2026 season, Hamlin will definitely walk in a changed man.

Denny Hamlin learns ONE key lesson from Mark Martin’s career, a value that only a few people seek…

Martin spent 31 years in the Cup Series, winning 40 races but never securing a championship. But his status as one of the toughest competitors in NASCAR history has never been in doubt. With 60 wins over 21 years, Hamlin knows precisely what that kind of legacy feels like. Hanging back on the support he received after Phoenix, he admitted, “I saw it, I felt it. I still see it and feel it on social media. So yeah, it’s gratifying for me.”

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver shared that Martin’s career taught him that the true reward isn’t what’s on paper.

Hamlin added, “The trophies mean nothing. There’s only a few people that walk in the front door of this house, so there’s only a few people that see it. It’s the respect that we really ultimately seek. Mark Martin was one that I always thought that the guy never won a championship. But if you don’t put him in your top 10 greatest drivers of all time, you’re absolutely crazy.”

For Hamlin, that kind of legacy resonates more than ever. Like Martin, he’s come to value standing shoulder to shoulder with a sport’s best over chasing a single championship label. “The Kid” always said he felt fulfilled because he owned the respect of fans and competitors. And today, Hamlin feels the same.

He didn’t hold back when praising Martin’s place in NASCAR history, saying, “Anybody that raced against him knew that that guy was doing exceptional things. Even when he didn’t have the fastest car, he made speed and won races and just everyone knew. You ask Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace and guys with far more wins than Mark Martin, they’d say, ‘Yeah, but Mark’s the toughest. Mark was the hardest to beat.”

With Hamlin’s new and renewed approach to racing, the postseason has definitely been a turning point for him as he recovers from the heartbreak. He was recently involved in a legal battle with NASCAR over charters, and one can be assured that he will show up for his 23XI Racing team, which is in the thick of the face-off.