Denny Hamlin is running out of time. And no, it’s not because his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing is ending soon. It’s because of his father’s ailing health. Dennis Hamlin, who mortgaged their house, maxed out credit cards, skipped meals, and almost went broke trying to get his son into the stock car scene, made Denny Hamlin what he is today.

And since the last 21 years, with 60 Cup wins and three Daytonas, Denny has given it back by winning everything he can in the sport. Except for one thing. That championship title.

Right after the Las Vegas win, Hamlin had made one thing clear. He “just want(s) him to hang on long enough to see it all the way through.” And now, as that moment is almost here, Denny explained the urgency.

Dennis Hamlin’s last chance to see son Denny win it all

Speaking to the Associated Press, Denny Hamlin said, “I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment.” Dennis Hamlin, now 75, has been battling a serious illness for a while now, and he will not be there at Phoenix, as he is too sick to travel, and Hamlin confirmed his father’s deteriorating condition.

The No. 11 driver has opened up about his father’s condition on multiple occasions. He first mentioned it after his win at the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway and dedicated that victory to his father as he stood in Victory Lane. A month later, the story deepened.

When Denny Hamlin captured his 60th career win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a triumph that also secured his spot in the Championship 4, emotions took over. Once again, he honored his father, saying the milestone felt even more meaningful knowing what his family was going through. As the season’s biggest race approaches, Hamlin admits he is hoping his father will be there to witness him finally capture his first-ever Cup title.

Reflecting on the Las Vegas win and what it meant to his father, the JGR driver had said , “He was just so happy and he always tells me I’m the best, no matter if I win or not, he always says I’m the best. He’s a big hype guy and I sat in his garage and talked with him, he’s got all my old memorabilia and it’s just good to reminisce. He’s a reminiscent guy and right now I am just cherishing those hours that I have with them each week.”

But in order to deliver and dedicate his first Cup title to his father, Denny Hamlin will have to battle Kyle Larson, William Byron, and his JGR teammate, Chase Briscoe. So it’s not just him vs them, it’s also Toyota vs Chevrolet, Joe Gibbs vs Rick Hendrick.

And although Hamlin admits he isn’t entirely sure how his fellow playoff contenders would react if he finally won the championship, he has a feeling that Kyle Larson would be genuinely happy for him. Larson also told the AP that if he couldn’t claim the title himself, he’d be glad to see Hamlin do it.

“He’s a deserving champion and nearing the end of his career, so if I couldn’t win, I’d love to see him because you’d think he’d have one on his resume. He deserves it. I could see how (his dad) absolutely gives extra motivation, and I think sympathy goes a long way. It’s not going to stop me from wanting to beat him, but there’s a lot of reasons a Denny Hamlin championship would feel good. I truly think everybody in the sport would be happy, probably even the folks at NASCAR,” said Larson.

Larson’s emotional words go beyond sportsmanship. It shows how, aside from competitiveness and rivalries, Larson keeps the emotion on top, and feels what Denny’s facing. Ultimately, it’s all about that respect and empathy, which makes a competitor like Larson also root for Hamlin, seeing his own win in his.

As Hamlin appreciates all the family sacrifices made, he just has this one wish, and very recently, Hamlin revealed his mindset ahead of the weekend.

Denny Hamlin reveals a calmer approach to his fifth Championship 4 race

This season, Denny Hamlin heads into the Phoenix finale as the winningest driver among the championship contenders, boasting twice as many victories as his rivals. This marks his fifth appearance in the title-deciding race under the current playoff format and his first since 2021. Reflecting on his mindset heading into the weekend, Hamlin described a calmer, more prepared version of himself compared to past attempts.

He said, “It feels a little bit different. Less rushed, I guess you could say, and simply because we did so much of our (preparation) for Phoenix before this week, so less rushed is the biggest difference I feel over previous (Championship Four bids).”

At 44, Hamlin is also the oldest driver in the championship hunt, a fact that brings both perspective and pressure. Still, he remains upbeat about his chances. Despite the mechanical struggles at Martinsville last weekend, he added, “I definitely feel optimistic about it. Just generally in a good headspace.”

For Hamlin, this weekend is not just another shot at the title; it is a chance to cement his legacy and close the season on a career-defining high while his father is still around to witness it.