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Hamlin back to trophy hunting after one-week absence for birth of son
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, a three-race winner this season, missed last week's race in Mexico City so he could be home with his family for the birth of his first son, Jameson Drew. Hamlin revealed that it was a tough labor for his fiancée, Jordan, and was glad he could be there for her and their two daughters.
His son's name was thoughtful and purposeful — Jameson is 'James' son' and James is Hamlin's first name. And Drew gives him 'JD' initials — a nod to both the late JD Gibbs, a cherished friend of Hamlin and the person credited with hiring him at JGR and also the initials of James Dean, the car owner earlier in Hamlin's career providing his big opportunity to be seen — and eventually hired — to a major NASCAR operation.
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'He's been great, slept through the night the last three nights in a row. … he's behaving good early,' Hamlin said of his son, with a smile.
MORE: Truex fills in for Hamlin at Mexico City
Hamlin said he watched the Mexico City race from home last weekend and was very impressed with the Amazon Prime broadcast and the extended time the network uses. But he's ready to race at Pocono — where his seven wins are the most all-time. He finished runner-up (2024) and scored that seventh win (2023) in the last two visits.
'Just a track that no matter what the car we drive or the tires we have on or the aero package, none of that really matters,' said Hamlin, who earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Pocono, sweeping both races — from pole position no less – in his 2006 rookie season.
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'You still make speed at this race track the same way, no matter what car you're driving.
'It's been one of the few tracks that I haven't had to change my approach to it, depending on the car I'm driving. So, I think that's why the success has been sustained.'
