Under the Nevada lights, Denny Hamlin delivered a signature drive in the South Point 400 to stamp his place in the Championship 4. Starting from the pole, he bided his time through a 267-lap test of patience. Kyle Larson led a race-high 129 laps, but in those final 10 laps, Hamlin pounced, holding off Larson by 1.533 seconds for the win. He claimed his 60th career Cup victory, tying himself with Kevin Harvick for 10th on the all-time wins list. But he didn’t celebrate with empty bravado.

Instead, Hamlin stood at the fence, emotions visible, and offered heartfelt words: “This win means a lot… I appreciate you all so much,” said Hamlin, his eyes water-filled as he looked toward the crowded grandstands. “Obviously, just want to say ‘hi’ to my dad and family back at home,” he added, dedicating the win to his ailing father. But more importantly, it highlighted Joe Gibbs Racing’s long-standing support for Hamlin, as Gibbs expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his star driver’s prowess.

Joe Gibbs opens up on watching Denny Hamlin grow into a leader

Looking back over Hamlin’s two decades with Joe Gibbs Racing, team owner Joe Gibbs said that he sees a massive shift in his personality from his start in the Xfinity Series. “Honestly, I would say that probably one of the biggest changes in a personality is when Denny first came to us. He was so quiet, you had to try and get him to talk, and today, if I look at where he is today, and it’s been so interesting to watch that, over the years, I think part of it is maturing,” he explained.

Hamlin’s national series debut for JGR was at Darlington Raceway in 2004, and he went full-time in the Busch Series in 2005. Gibbs’ memory of young Denny highlighted the stark contrast between the reserved young talent and the outspoken, dominant veteran serving as the center of attention and controversy equally. Gibbs also attributed this profound change to the natural process of growing up and the added layers of responsibility that have come with it.

“I do think one of the changes to his family and everything he’s got going there with Jordan, but I think it’s just one of those things where somebody matures, becomes a father, and takes on a huge responsibility, has his own race team, and all of that, and probably causes somebody to actually change their personality,” he noted. Hamlin is now a proud father of 3 children, while at the same time, co-owning the 23XI Racing Cup Series team with NBA legend Michael Jordan, which debuted in 2021.

The pressure of his entrepreneurial and paternal roles has seemingly helped transform the introverted rookie into a highly confident and outspoken leader both on and off the track. “Certainly, I think Denny’s gone through one of the biggest changes of almost anyone I know,” Gibbs said. Hamlin has himself talked about his shyness in his early interviews, saying, “I’m quiet. A lot of people mistake shyness with co–iness, but I really feel like I’m just a quiet person in general. I don’t usually say a lot, especially around people I don’t know that well.”

The combination of career longevity, growing maturity, and the establishment of his own business has forged a completely new persona for the veteran driver. Hamlin’s current identity as a driver, team owner, and media personality is a testament to his profound personal evolution, and Gibbs is not alone in thinking that.

Denny Hamlin’s crew chief reveals what finally clicked for the JGR star

In the post-race interview, when asked why everything has clicked this year, Hamlin‘s crew chief, Chris Gayle, admitted that the underlying reason remains elusive, but offered a theory based on observation. “I really wish I knew. I think that probably things changing for him allowed a little different perspective for him where he felt like he had to be more a part of it and help. That’s just my gut. He hasn’t said that to me. I’m just watching, right, and I’m watching what he does and how he tries to be a part of it,” he said.

Gayle’s hypothesis suggests a shift in Hamlin’s engagement following a major crew chief swap at the end of the previous season. The pairing of veteran Gayle was a strategic move by Joe Gibbs Racing, which had gone winless in the final 18 races of the prior year. Hamlin has rewarded that trust by leading all drivers with 6 wins in 2025, one less than his 2020 season. This success, according to Gayle, is built on the willingness to collaborate.

Gayle elaborated that despite his lack of certainty about the “magic” behind the success, Hamlin has been utterly dedicated to the team’s process. “But I’m also doing that without living through the previous experience, so I don’t know for sure, but I know that whatever I’ve asked him to do, he’s done it. He never questions it. If we want to cut something short, come back a different day and do it for a reason, he’s like, ‘yep, I’m all in,'” he continued.

His victory at Vegas was clinched by a clutch pit stop with 14 laps left, where Gayle called for 4 fresh tires. Hamlin then sliced through the field from 5th place, passing Larson and then his teammate Chase Briscoe, who was on only two fresh tires, with 4 laps remaining for his emotional Cup win. It suggested that magic isn’t a secret trick, but the sheer force of a mature, committed driver putting in consistent work required to maintain dominance in an ever-evolving sport.