has gained 13 NASCAR Cup Sequence races since being named one in all NASCAR’s 75 Biggest Drivers of all-time in 2023. So it ought to come to nobody’s , 45, is broadly thought of a future NASCAR Corridor of Famer.
The query is who must be thought of for the NASCAR Corridor of Fame, and Hamlin has a robust opinion on who belongs and who doesn’t. The 61-time NASCAR Cup Sequence winner and two-time collection runner-up is okay with achieved Cup Sequence drivers like himself being enshrined within the
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It’s drivers who compete completely within the sport’s decrease divisions, together with the Craftsman Vehicles Sequence and the , and others outdoors of the Cup Sequence who Hamlin says don’t belong.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 15: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence Pennzoil 400 offered by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 15: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence Pennzoil 400 offered by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 15: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates together with his mom, Mary Lou Hamlin after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence Pennzoil 400 offered by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Nov 2, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) reacts after climnbing out of his automobile following the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
NASCAR Driver Denny Hamlin (L) and spouse Jordan Fish depart the Charles R Jonas Federal Constructing on Dec. 1, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jury choice and a gap assertion started an antitrust lawsuit filed by Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing workforce in opposition to NASCAR.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
PHOENIX, ARIZONA РNOVEMBER 04: NASCAR Cup Sequence driver, Denny Hamlin his fianc̩ Jordan Fish and daughter Taylor Hamlin pose for a photograph on the crimson carpet through the 2025 NASCAR Awards Present at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on November 04, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 02: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, and Jordan Fish embrace on the grid after the NASCAR Cup Sequence Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photograph by James Gilbert/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 12, 2025.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 ampm Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence South Level 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Logan Riely/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
MADISON, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 07: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, exits his automobile after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence Take pleasure in Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway on September 07, 2025 in Madison, Illinois. (Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Sep 7, 2025; Madison, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) hosts the trophy after successful the Take pleasure in Illinois 300 at World Large Expertise Raceway. Necessary Credit score: Joe Puetz-Imagn Pictures
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway on July 20, 2025.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Jul 20, 2025; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates after successful the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Necessary Credit score: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Pictures
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 08: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence FireKeepers On line casino 400 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – JUNE 08: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence FireKeepers On line casino 400 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 30: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence Cook dinner Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 30: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, celebrates after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence Cook dinner Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 30: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence Cook dinner Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 12: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Nationwide Debt Aid Toyota speaks to the media throughout Media Day for the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway on February 12, 2025 in Daytona Seaside, Florida. (Photograph by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Denny Hamlin appears on earlier than the CFP Nationwide Championship school soccer sport at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Nov 22, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) through the NASCAR Awards Banquet at Charlotte Conference Heart. Necessary Credit score: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Pictures
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – NOVEMBER 02: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx One Fee Toyota, and JGR workforce proprietor and NASCAR Corridor of Famer, Joe Gibbs speak within the storage space after an on-track incident throughout apply for the NASCAR Cup Sequence Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on November 02, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 06: Co-owners of 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx One Fee Toyota, and NBA Corridor of Famer, Michael Jordan speak on the grid after the NASCAR Cup Sequence YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 06, 2024 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Pictures)
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Aug 11, 2024; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) wrecks after the end of the race through the Cook dinner Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. Necessary Credit score: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports activities
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Apr 28, 2024; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after successful the Wurth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Necessary Credit score: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports activities
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Mar 31, 2024; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates successful the Toyota House owners 400 at Richmond Raceway. Necessary Credit score: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports activities
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Mar 31, 2024; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates after successful the Toyota House owners 400 at Richmond Raceway. Necessary Credit score: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports activities
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Feb 3, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates his victory of the Busch Mild Conflict at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish poses on the crimson carpet for the 2023 NASCAR Awards Banquet on the Music Metropolis Heart in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Sept. 16: Denny Hamlin celebrates after successful the Bass Professional Retailers Evening Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) makes his means onto the observe Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, forward of the Verizon 200 on the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates after successful the 2022 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates after successful the AdventHealth 400, Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Bubba Wallace, left, with driver and workforce proprietor Denny Hamlin at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Might 28, 2022.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) exits his automobile after a second climate delay through the Ally 400 on the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 26, 2022.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after successful the Toyota House owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin drives through the NASCAR Burnouts on Broadway occasion on Decrease Broadway in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Sept 5: Denny Hamlin celebrates after successful the Cook dinner Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin reacts as he holds a lobster successful at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2017.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin, the two-time defending Daytona 500 champion, gained the primary stage of the rain-delayed 2021 race Sunday Feb. 14, 2021, at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates successful the 2020 Daytona 500.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Alabama soccer announcer Eli Gold, left, talks with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin at The Locker Room close to campus Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2013. Talladega Superspeedway launched two NASCAR Faculty Applications on the College of Alabama and Auburn College.Prizes got out on the occasion and driver Denny Hamlin gave choose college students rides to class all through the day. The primary 100 college students gained unique social gathering passes to a hospitality space within the infield at Talladege for the upcoming Tenting World RV Gross sales 500 and a seat on a constitution bus to convey them to the observe on race day. employees picture | Dusty Compton
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after successful Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Sequence race at Dover Worldwide Speedway.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
June 6, 2011 – Denny Hamlin watches his second shot on the par 4 second gap on the FESJC Danny Thomas Professional Am at TPC Southwind. He made par on the outlet.
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Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in high 10 for all-time wins
Sep 3, 2017; Darlington, SC, USA; Monster Vitality NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates successful the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
DENNY HALMIN’S TRAGIC OFFSEASON:
“I feel it simply is dependent upon what you need the Corridor of Fame to be,” Hamlin stated just lately on his .
Decrease-tier NASCAR drivers do not evaluate to Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon or Richard Petty
Hamlin stated the NASCAR Corridor of Fame loses credibility with the game’s followers when it contains lower-tier drivers with the all-time greats.
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“Now, I see that folk are making the statements that it’s the NASCAR Corridor of Fame. Go ask anybody that’s the very informal fan … they don’t seem to be watching. Do they know that there’s like six collection of NASCAR? No, they know of Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Richard Petty. That’s Sunday.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast began NASCAR Corridor of Fame debate
The subject didn’t simply pop up on Hamlin’s podcast. It began on a current episode of when Travis Rockhold, an on-air contributor for Soiled Mo Media, prefaced a remark by saying it was “controversial” after which stated, “I do not assume Xfinity, O’Reilly, Busch, Nationwide (collection) ought to depend. To me, Xfinity’s like AAA (in baseball). If it was earlier than NASCAR was created, then we are able to have a dialogue. But when NASCAR Cup Sequence was there, then I feel that is when it ought to begin.”
Earnhardt Jr. is within the NASCAR Corridor of Fame and serves on its voting panel.
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, “It’s actually not the Cup Sequence Corridor of Fame,” noting that different ranges of the game are additionally thought of for induction. “You’re actually altering what the Corridor of Fame is.”
Kenny Wallace sides with Denny Hamlin on NASCAR Corridor of Fame debate
Hamlin, and retired NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace agreed with Rockhold.
On his , Wallace stated, “Anybody who compares a former O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence champion to the likes of Richard Petty has misplaced their marbles.”
Hamlin stored the controversy happening his podcast Monday.
“I consider that the general public which have adamant arguments for the decrease collection guys, they’ve a connection to them someway,” Hamlin stated. “They’re their pals, they grew up watching them or one thing. So, they’ve an emotional connection to these individuals. ‘I need my man in! He’s my man! He deserves to be in!’”
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Who’re the 2027 NASCAR Corridor of Fame nominees?
The NASCAR Corridor of Fame choice committee introduced its poll for the 2027 class on March 29. It contains Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Ray Elder, Ernie Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Randy LaJoie, and Jack Sprague on the fashionable period poll. The pioneer poll for older careers contains Ray Fox, Harry Hyde, Banjo Matthews, Herb Nab and Larry Phillips.
The NASCAR Corridor of Fame voting panel will meet in Charlotte on Might 19 to solid ballots. Fan voting, which can depend as one poll towards the collection of the category, will likely be open from April 14-Might 17 at .
