The emotions were evident on Denny Hamlin's face after he won his 61st career Cup Series race. He smiled and celebrated his win, but he also choked back tears while discussing what it means to him and his family.
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After all, his past five months have featured a celebration at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, heartbreak at Phoenix Raceway, a celebration at a Charlotte courthouse, his mother sustaining injuries in a house fire, his father passing away, and a torn shoulder.
"I mean, I knew it took a few weeks to feel like driving," Hamlin said on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "Over the last couple weeks, I definitely regained my love of it, got refocused. These are great opportunities for us.
"I mean, this is a family sport. My family obviously had so much sacrifice to help me get here. Now that I've grown, generations of Hamlins following me. It's great Mom gets to see this. I know Dad's still saying, 'That's my boy.' Hell of a day."
"That's my boy!" ❤️ pic.twitter.com/eV0LU1jS8L
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 15, 2026
Hamlin has endured a considerable amount. He won his 60th career race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October while his ailing father, Dennis, watched. He reached the Championship 4 for the first time in the Gen 7 era.
The veteran driver then dominated the championship race at Phoenix Raceway only to miss out on his first title due to a late caution and a different pit strategy than eventual champion Kyle Larson.
Hamlin later said at the NASCAR Awards Banquet that he would need some time before deciding if he would return for the 2026 Cup Series season.
The heartbreak continued in December, despite 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports reaching a settlement that ended a legal battle with NASCAR.
A fire occurred at Hamlin's parents' home. His mother and father sustained injuries, and his father ultimately passed away. Hamlin then tore his shoulder going through the rubble of the home.
He could have easily walked away after dealing with this tragedy, but he continued to show up at the race track to start the 2026 Cup Series season.
It paid off as he scored another win and shared a special moment with his mother, his fiancee, and his children.
"Well, I mean, ultimately I'm still a competitor, right? Everyone's got to go through that process, the grieving process," Hamlin said during his post-race press conference. "There were a lot of different things through the off-season that were really, really tough.
"Yeah, I mean, I showed up at Bowman Gray. I ran the race. Still just up until a couple weeks ago not fully locked in to what I need to do, got to do. That's just natural. I mean, everyone has to go through stuff.
"I think for me ultimately, I said it before, promise to Joe Gibbs, that family, that I'd fulfill my obligations to them. Then the thrill of going out there and getting more wins. That to me is what drives me. It makes me work as hard as I do at this.
"Everyone goes through tragedies and stuff. It doesn't change kind of who I am, and that's a competitor that loves to go out there. This is my life's work."
