Denny Hamlin, a seasoned NASCAR driver known for his resilience, recently shared the details of what he calls his toughest NASCAR race. During an interview this year, Hamlin described enduring severe physical pain while competing, revealing a side of his career that fans had never seen before. The 44-year-old driver’s candid account highlights the intense challenges he faced during that event, illustrating why this race remains his most difficult.
The Incident at Iowa and Its Lasting Impact
In a candid discussion with Jeff Gluck for The Athletic’s 12 Questions series, Hamlin recounted the Iowa race last year as his most painful experience. Despite his long career marked by 58 victories, he emphasized that this race pushed him to his limits physically and mentally. Hamlin explained he came down with a fever that compromised his strength early on, followed by a back injury that made competing agonizing.
Pain-wise, I’ve had some bad ones. Arguably, the worst was Iowa last year. No one really knew about it, but I came down with a fever, which weakened my body, and then I threw out my back.
—Denny Hamlin
The severity of his condition affected his ability to perform routine tasks in the race. Hamlin recalled struggling so much that during pit stops, he had to instruct the jackman carefully on how to operate the jack, since his back pain prevented him from doing so normally.
I remember during pit stops telling the jackman, ‘You can’t just drop the jack, you need to squeeze it down.’ I was in bad, bad shape.
—Denny Hamlin
Hamlin admitted that this part of his story was previously unknown to the public, as he had never mentioned it before in interviews or on his own podcast. The physical toll was so great that he began the race already two laps behind due to how poor he felt.
No, just blew that over. I went two laps down to start that race because I felt so horrible.
—Denny Hamlin
Hamlin Addresses Misunderstandings About His Personality
Beyond the physical hardships, Hamlin took the opportunity to reflect on misconceptions about his character within the NASCAR community. He acknowledged that some fans may view him negatively, but he believes this is often due to misunderstandings rather than his true nature. Hamlin explained that his focused demeanor and competitive intensity during races can be mistaken for abrasiveness.
It’s more than likely people who have never met me, or saw me walking somewhere, and I didn’t have time to stop. I always try to when I can. Or maybe the s*** talking I do on the track makes them think that’s just who I am.
—Denny Hamlin
Fond Memories Behind Hamlin’s First Autograph
In a lighter moment during the interview, Hamlin fondly recalled the first autograph he ever received. He shared how his father, who worked as an honorary pit crew member for Junie Donlavey’s team, brought back a hat covered with signatures from legendary drivers. This early exposure helped spark Hamlin’s passion for racing and remains a treasured memory in his long career.
I know the first autograph I received. My dad was an honorary pit crew member — and back then, ‘honorary’ meant you actually had to work — for Junie Donlavey’s team.
—Denny Hamlin
He got all the autographs from the major drivers: Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, all those guys. He brought me a hat back with like 20 signatures on it.
—Denny Hamlin
That was the first time I’d ever gotten an autograph from someone. My dad worked at Great Dane Trailers. Junie Donlavey was a Richmond-based team, and they brought in their hauler for my dad to service it. Junie asked him, ‘Hey, you want to come work on our team this weekend?’ I think it was Dover.
—Denny Hamlin
Looking Ahead: Aiming for Another Victory at Richmond
As the current NASCAR season progresses, Denny Hamlin remains a formidable contender. Matching Shane van Gisbergen with four wins so far this year, Hamlin is aiming to secure a fifth victory at Richmond Raceway, a track where he has found considerable success previously. His past five wins at this Virginia short track demonstrate his capability and determination to extend his winning streak.
This goal reflects Hamlin’s ongoing commitment to maintaining his edge in a highly competitive Cup Series field, where driver skill and resilience are constantly tested. The combination of his experience and recent success positions him as a strong favorite heading into the Richmond race.