Very few NASCAR drivers are lucky enough to plan their exit on their own terms. Denny Hamlin fits that rare mold. Building a powerhouse career with 59 Cup Series wins in 714 starts, he’s not tired, as his path continues to see fresh wins to date, like the five in this year. But as the veteran driver approaches the close of his era, the community reflects on his impact and shares how that end would map out.

This season brought standout chaos, like the tire struggles at Bristol that turned the track into a survival test. Yet, the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway stood apart. Hamlin’s 59th win tied him with Kyle Busch for most in a Toyota and delivered the brand’s 200th Cup victory. The post-race comments carried real gravity, touching on Hamlin’s outlook and sparking talks about his lasting mark. But with the end in sight, fans voice out on the achievements still possible for this divisive talent.

After clinching the win at Gateway in the playoffs, Hamlin used the post-race presser to confirm his timeline, stating plainly, “Yes, that’s correct,” when asked if his latest two-year extension would be his final one. This puts his last races in 2027, aligning with the end of his Joe Gibbs Racing contract that runs through that season.

With roughly 70-80 races remaining, seven are left in 2025, plus full schedules in 2026 and 2027. Hamlin’s window narrows for adding to his standout record, which features no Cup championship yet despite a second-place finish in 2010, his closest shot.

Hamlin elaborated on his mindset, saying, “I feel confident that I got two years left, and that’ll be it. I just want to keep doing this at a high level, and I feel like that’s a confident number in which I can still perform at this type of level,” emphasizing pride in competing against younger talent without fading.

“Maybe. I just think it would be really, really difficult to be competitive if I didn’t do it week in, week out. Maybe with the simulation world we have nowadays, it could make it a little easier. But I just don’t know. I just think when I’m done, I’m done,” he added, underscoring a clean break once performance dips.

This came amid a hot 2025 stretch with five victories, including Gateway, where he also hit a milestone for his team. His crew chief, Chris Gabehart, praised this drive, noting, “Some of it was probably his work ethic… I didn’t know how much he took pride in that,” highlighting the obsession fueling success at age 44 after years of grinding through injuries and team rebuilds.

One fan summed up a personal hope amid the announcement: “Not a Denny fan but want his dad to smoke that cigar.” This touches on Hamlin’s family ties, imagining a championship celebration where his father lights up in triumph after years of support. As talks heat up, let’s explore what more fans expect from Hamlin in his final phase before he steps away as the sport’s notorious anti-hero.

Fan hopes for Denny Hamlin’s swan song

Picture Hamlin capping it all with glory, one supporter laid it out. “A walk-off win to get the championship in his final season, then pulling a Kyle Busch at Bristol and absolutely ripping the format apart in his interview.” Such a bold exit would fit Hamlin’s fiery persona, echoing Busch’s 2010 Bristol outburst against critics after a win under boos. Hamlin’s own history of vocal playoff critiques, like calling out inconsistencies in 2023, sets the stage for this, a poetic close.

Hamlin’s clutch moments often spark debate, leading another voice to predict, “Same choke job as the last 18+ years.” This jabs at his playoff stumbles, like the 2019 Homestead, where he dominated qualifying but wrecked out, or 2020’s finale mechanical woes despite seven wins that year. Starting from his 2006 Chase debut as a rookie, finishing third overall, Hamlin has racked up 14 playoff victories, tying for fourth all-time, yet has zero championships.

“Certified Denny hater here 👋🏻 I honestly wish he’d win the championship. So it shuts up the “he doesn’t have a championship!” people, and also because of the lawsuit. It’d be pretty funny.” The irony ties to 23XI Racing’s ongoing antitrust suit against NASCAR, co-owned by Hamlin, challenging charter rules since 2024. A title amid that tension would amplify the humor, especially after his 2025 Gateway boos, where he taunted crowds, saying, “Y’all can boo me, but you can either get on the bandwagon, or you can get run over by it.”

Ambition runs high in fan visions, like aiming for “78 wins. 4000 laps lead. 130 stage wins. 7 liquid tons of haterade. Give me all the chaos.” The “haterade” nods to his villain role, fueled by incidents like the 2017 Martinsville clash with Chase Elliott. Chaos fits his style, from podcast rants to owning a team, all while chasing icons like Jeff Gordon‘s 93 wins.

Wrapping up strong resonates too—one fan shared, “I want to see him win that championship. I want to see him get 70 wins. Then ride off into the sunset. Love him or hate him no question he is one of the best to ever do it. We will all miss him when he’s gone.” Hitting 70 wins means 11 more, feasible given five in 2025 alone.

As one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers named in 2023, his no-title record stands unique, but triumphs like sweeping Pocono stages in 2023 show enduring prowess. A sunset title would honor his Joe Gibbs loyalty since 2005.