Denny Hamlin recently spoke about the special bond between his seven-year-old daughter Molly and her newborn brother, Jameson Drew Hamlin, who was born on June 11. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver highlighted how Molly shows immense care and affection for Jameson, even to the point of putting herself at risk to keep him safe. This touching dynamic was a key topic during Hamlin’s latest podcast episode of Actions Detrimental.
Hamlin explained that Molly has been carrying baby dolls around for years, but now she treats a real infant doll as if it were Jameson, cradling and carrying him throughout the house. The protective nature she exhibits is clear, as Hamlin said he believes she would not hesitate to sacrifice her own safety to avoid any harm coming to her little brother.
“You know how she carries around the fake baby dolls? She’s doing that now with a real baby doll. I mean, just toting this thing all around the house and we’re kind of like, but we would know that she would sacrifice her body if she tripped before hurting that child,” Denny Hamlin said (09:36 onwards).
Besides Molly and Jameson, Hamlin and his fiancée Jordan Fish also have a 12-year-old daughter, Taylor.
Hamlin Balances Family and Racing Amid Newborn Arrival
Hamlin missed the NASCAR race in Mexico City due to the birth of Jameson but received a playoff waiver allowing him to remain in postseason contention. At the subsequent Cup race held on June 22 at Pocono Raceway, Hamlin delivered a strong performance, finishing second. This result positioned him as the No. 1 seed for the new $1 million In-Season Challenge starting this weekend.
During the Pocono race, Hamlin earned the pole position, led for 32 laps, and won the first stage, but was narrowly defeated by his teammate Chase Briscoe by less than a second. The upcoming competition will kick off at EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Hamlin will face off against No. 32 seed Ty Dillon. Advancement depends solely on finishing position rather than points earned.
Choosing the Name Jameson and the Story Behind It
In another segment of the podcast, Hamlin revealed the process of naming his newborn son. He admitted trying to convince Jordan Fish to agree on “James Jet” as the baby’s name, a suggestion he pursued for quite some time. Despite almost securing approval for that name, they eventually decided on Jameson Drew Hamlin.
“I tried to sell her on James Jet for a very, very long time. I think I had wore her down enough to get that through the goal line, but we came up with others that, you know, there was one in particular we came really close to, Miles Miller,” Denny Hamlin said (08:43 onwards).
“I liked the if we didn’t go with JD, I liked first and middle initials to be the same because it just kind of rolls off the tongue,” he added.
Hamlin’s choice held personal meaning, as he wanted to honor Jim Dean, the car owner he raced for in late models prior to joining Joe Gibbs Racing, owned by J.D. Gibbs.
The Importance of Family and Racing in Hamlin’s Life
This period marks a significant chapter for Hamlin, balancing the arrival of his third child with his ongoing racing career. As the top seed in the In-Season Challenge, Hamlin will need to maintain focus on the track while cherishing the new role of a father to Jameson. The devotion Molly shows illustrates the close-knit nature of Hamlin’s family, highlighting the protective bond that exists between siblings.
With high stakes ahead in the racing calendar and a growing family at home, Hamlin’s story reveals how personal life and professional ambition intertwine, shaping his experiences both on and off the racetrack.