Denny Hamlin has always been a strong advocate for grassroots racing. His passion for short tracks was evident through the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, a charity race he started in 2008. Hamlin loved giving back to the community, once saying, “This is truly one of my favorite events to host because of what it means for the local racers.” The event brought together NASCAR’s biggest names and local short-track racers, raising funds for the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at VCU’s Children’s Hospital.

The race started at Southside Speedway, Hamlin’s beloved hometown track, before shifting to Richmond, South Boston, and Langley Speedway, ultimately shutting down in 2018. Rising costs and logistical challenges forced its cancellation, leaving a void in short-track racing. Now, Southside Speedway is making a comeback and Hamlin can’t be more excited about it. While he missed out on the revival deal the Joe Gibbs Racing driver is looking forward to making a comeback at the iconic track.

Denny Hamlin reveals his plans for Southside Speedway!

Competitive Racing Investments (CRI) is bringing back Southside Speedway, a track deeply tied to Denny Hamlin’s origins. Led by Lin O’Neill and Jeff Oakley, the group secured a 20-year lease-to-purchase agreement with Chesterfield County. The revival is a major win for short-track racing, but Hamlin was noticeably absent from the project. Despite speculation about being sidelined, Hamlin didn’t dwell on the snub. Instead, he took the high road and praised the efforts.

While Hamlin acknowledged his disappointment in not being involved, he remained optimistic about the track’s future. He commended O’Neill and his team, saying, “It’s going to depend on how much money they’re willing to put back in it to get this thing revived and going again. But overall, really looking forward to Lynn and his whole team reviving that track.” Now, Hamlin’s comments shouldn’t surprise many. In 2024, he had announced that he wouldn’t be investing anything in the project.

On his Action Detrimental Podcast, Hamlin had said that he would like to run again at the iconic track, but he can’t put money into its revival. Southside Speedway is more than just a racetrack for Hamlin—it’s where his career began. He cut his teeth on the 0.33-mile short oval, racing late models before catching the attention of NASCAR scouts. The track played a vital role in his journey to becoming one of the sport’s greats.

In 2008, he returned to the track with then-teammate Kyle Busch to host the inaugural season of his short track showdown event. The race drew record-breaking crowds and showcased Hamlin’s commitment to keeping short-track racing alive. For the next three seasons, Hamlin, along with Busch and Tony Stewart, joined young racers for charity races. However, after he departed from the track, Southside Speedway failed to get much attention and eventually closed in 2019.

Now, almost half a decade later, Lin O’Neill and Jeff Oakley return to the iconic venue with big plans. The facility, once dubbed the “Toughest Short Track in the South,” will undergo major renovations. The goal is to create a multi-purpose venue that can host weekly races, concerts, and other events. O’Neill was once banned from Southside in 2013. Notably, he had a dispute with the previous owner which led to the fallout.

Speaking about the project, the CRI member revealed that it feels like winning the Daytona 500. “Man, I feel like I won the Daytona 500. It’s better than the Daytona 500. I mean, this is home, and now, between me and Jeff, we get to give it back to all the future racers and the past racers. We hope to have Denny’s race back here if he wants to do it. This is his home track too. Hopefully, he’ll come in and help us with some things that would be cool to help us get it even better than it ever was,” he said at the revival announcement.

Amid ongoing debate about his comeback, Hamlin recently shared his plans. He revealed that he would love to race or watch races at the iconic venue once he retires from NASCAR. “I can’t wait to go back and watch some races, if not race in it when I’m done retiring,” he told Frontstrech. While his plans remain uncertain, for now, Hamlin has shifted his focus to the NASCAR Cup Series.

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Joe Gibbs finally avoids a Kyle Busch-like situation for Hamlin!

As Hamlin prepares for the Homestead-Miami Speedway race. He does so with a new primary sponsor. Joe Gibbs Racing secured a major sponsorship deal with Progressive Insurance. And filled the void left by FedEx’s departure at the end of the 2024 season. The deal makes Progressive the primary sponsor of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota for 18 races in 2025. The insurance giant will also serve as a full-season associate sponsor for Joe Gibbs Racing.

JGR owner Joe Gibbs praised the partnership, saying, “Progressive is a premier national brand and a leader in the insurance industry. We are thrilled to have them partner with Denny and our No. 11 team.” Notably, for Hamlin this partnership comes at a crucial time. After the departure of FedEx, JGR struggled to get a season-long partner for Hamlin. This raised eyebrows as fans recalled Kyle Busch’s fallout with the team in similar situations.

However, just five races into the season Hamlin signed a long-term sponsorship deal. Hamlin, who has been one of the most successful drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will debut the Progressive colors at the upcoming race. He has three wins and three pole awards at the track. Notably, his most recent win came in 2020, where he dominated by leading 137 of 267 laps.

Additionally, in 2024, Hamlin nearly secured another victory at Homestead. He grabbed the lead late in the race, only to finish third after an intense battle. With his new sponsor onboard, he’ll be looking to return to Victory Lane at one of his strongest tracks. However, Hamlin must battle his teammate Christopher Bell. Notably, Bell has already won three of five races this season. How do you think this season will unfold for Hamlin? Share your thoughts in the comments below.