Denny Hamlin is still winning races and chasing championships, but the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran already has a clear idea of who could eventually take over the No. 11 Toyota.
The timing of Hamlin’s comments is notable. Less than 24 hours after winning at Michigan International Speedway and cutting Tyler Reddick’s NASCAR Cup Series points lead from 97 to 51, Hamlin discussed his future and the driver he believes could one day inherit his ride.
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While Hamlin remains one of the sport’s top competitors at age 45, he acknowledged that Joe Gibbs Racing may already have its next star waiting in the wings.
Hamlin believes Brent Crews could be next in line
Whenever Hamlin eventually steps away from the No. 11, he believes Brent Crews is the driver most likely to inherit the seat.
The teenager has quickly emerged as one of the most highly regarded prospects in Toyota’s driver development pipeline, building a reputation as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Asked about his future, Hamlin indicated that Crews is already part of the equation when he thinks about what comes next for Joe Gibbs Racing.
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“At the end of next year … I told him just check with me in six months. Check with me in six months,” Hamlin said. “I don’t want to leave them in flux. They’ve got a great driver in Brent Crews that’s gonna be ready more than likely by the end of next year. It’d be hard — if [his contract ended] right now, it’d be really hard. But I find it hard to believe we’re going to be at this level at this time next year.”
The comments offer a rare glimpse into how Hamlin views the future of the organization. Rather than focusing solely on his own timeline, the three-time Daytona 500 winner appears mindful of making sure Joe Gibbs Racing has a succession plan in place whenever he decides to step away.
That day may not be coming anytime soon.
Joe Gibbs wants Hamlin to stay
If Joe Gibbs has his way, Hamlin will remain behind the wheel of the No. 11 for years to come.
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The Hall of Fame owner recently made it clear that he has no interest in seeing one of the most successful drivers in team history walk away while he continues performing at an elite level.
“I joke with him, we have a five-year deal ready, but really no, I’m dead serious,” Gibbs told Motorsport.com. “From my standpoint, any athlete that is really performing like that, I’ve had athletes at different times in football come to me and say ‘hey coach, should I come back and try it,’ and I always give the same advice.
“When you’re still performing that way, you never look back in life. So, I’ll probably say the same thing to Denny, but yeah, we reached out with that two-year deal (through 2027) and I think we want Denny to stay with us.”
Gibbs’ comments are understandable given what Hamlin continues to accomplish on the track.
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His Michigan victory was his third win of the 2026 season and the 63rd Cup Series victory of his career, tying the late Kyle Busch for 10th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. More importantly, the win significantly tightened the regular-season championship battle heading into the summer stretch of the schedule.
For now, Hamlin remains focused on adding more victories and pursuing the championship that has eluded him throughout his Hall of Fame-caliber career.
But whenever the day finally comes for him to leave the No. 11, he already seems to know who should be next in line.
And if Hamlin’s prediction proves correct, Brent Crews could someday find himself behind the wheel of one of NASCAR’s most recognizable cars.
