Denny Hamlin (born November 18, 1980) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner, widely regarded as one of NASCAR’s top talents despite never having won a championship. Raised in Virginia after being born in Tampa, he began racing go‑karts at age seven, eventually catching the attention of Joe Gibbs Racing—where he made his Cup Series debut in 2005 and earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 after winning twice and finishing third in the standings. Driving the No. 11 Toyota for JGR, Hamlin has logged over 700 Cup starts with nearly 60 career victories, including three Daytona 500s (2016, 2019, 2020), a Coca‑Cola 600 (2022), and three Southern 500 titles (2010, 2017, 2021). Known for his competitive fire, psychological gamesmanship, and sometimes polarizing presence on track, Hamlin also co‑founded 23XI Racing alongside Michael Jordan and stars in the Netflix series Full Speed, offering fans an insider look at his life both behind the wheel and off it