Denny Hamlin, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, welcomed his third child on June 11, 2025, sharing the news alongside his fiancée Jordan Fish on June 19 via Instagram. Ahead of his return to NASCAR at the Pocono Raceway event, Hamlin opened up about the inspiration behind naming his newborn son Jameson Drew, connecting the name to key people who influenced his racing career.

Hamlin, the eldest driver on the NASCAR circuit, and Jordan Fish have had a long relationship spanning 15 years after meeting many years ago. They have two daughters, Taylor born in 2013 and Molly in 2017. Despite facing difficulties in 2021, the couple reconciled and announced their engagement in January 2024 before welcoming their son.

During an interview with Cup Scene before the Pocono race, Hamlin explained the significance of his son’s name. He emphasized the personal and professional connections tied to it:

“The name—um—obviously I’m James, so that’s James’ son, Jameson. And so, and Drew—we wanted to keep JD because, obviously, JD Gibbs is a big, big part of my getting here to the Cup Series. James Dean was the car owner I drove for in late models that got me the equipment to win all those races to get seen by JD. I’m JD, and so we’re just keeping it going.” —Denny Hamlin

Hamlin drives the #11 Toyota Camry XSE and has demonstrated strong prospects for the Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Securing the pole position, he posted a best lap time of 52.144 seconds with a top speed of 172.599 mph, narrowly edging out Chris Buescher by 0.083 seconds in the qualifying rounds.

NASCAR Grants Denny Hamlin a Playoff Waiver After Missing Mexico City Race

Although NASCAR’s Stock Car Racing Association rules stipulate that drivers must participate in every race to qualify for playoff contention, Denny Hamlin received an official waiver exempting him after missing the Mexico City event for medical reasons. The NASCAR Viva Mexico 250 was Hamlin’s first missed race since 2014, ending his streak of 406 consecutive starts.

As Hamlin prepared for Pocono, he was chasing his 58th win and recently celebrated a milestone with his 700th start at Nashville Superspeedway. Following this, he secured a victory at Michigan Speedway, becoming only the tenth driver in stock car history to win on their 701st start. Reflecting on his enduring performance during the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin remarked:

“Usually by this time, the performance starts to go away… your performance is tailing off, and I just don’t feel that way. I feel as strong as ever and I really wanted to win on 700. Will I be around to see 800? I don’t think so. I think that that’s probably closing. I don’t know. We’ll see. I’ve got to stay at this current level. The minute I feel like it’s slipping, I’m out of here.” —Denny Hamlin

Currently sitting fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings with 494 points, Hamlin has recorded three wins, eight top-ten finishes, and seven top-five placements in the 15 races so far this season. He has led a total of 455 laps and maintains an average starting position of 11.733.

Looking Ahead: Hamlin’s Drive to Maintain Excellence Amid New Fatherhood

Denny Hamlin’s recent personal milestone with the birth of his son Jameson Drew reflects the deep connections he values, both within his family and his racing career. As he resumes competition at Pocono Raceway, Hamlin aims to continue his strong performance while balancing his evolving role as a father of three.

The playoff waiver ensures that missing the Mexico City race due to health issues will not hinder his postseason eligibility, keeping his championship hopes alive. With his proven track record and determination, Hamlin remains a formidable contender as the NASCAR season progresses.