“I never feel like I have something to prove, but I always race that way,” Hamlin said, standing on the Virginia Tech sideline just minutes before kickoff against Alabama back in 2009. Born in Tampa, Florida, and raised in Chesterfield, Virginia, Hamlin was hooked on racing from the moment he gripped a go-kart steering wheel at seven. By his teens, he was tearing up tracks in Late Model Stock cars, racking up wins and dreaming of the big leagues. But racing was a money pit, and for the Hamlin family, the well ran dry by 2002. At 21, Denny stood at a crossroads, staring down the end of a dream that had defined his life. But someone kept him going….

Growing up, Denny wasn’t shielded from his family’s struggles. Night after night, he’d lie in bed, hearing his parents’ voices carry through the walls. His mom, Mary Lou, was the firebrand, refusing to let go of her son’s talent. “She’d say, ‘We gotta keep going, we gotta find a way,’” Denny recalled in a raw moment. His dad, Dennis, a trailer shop owner, was more pragmatic, his voice heavy with defeat: “There’s no more money. I have no more money.” Those words burned into Denny’s mind, teaching him early that dreams come with a price. By 2002, the family sat down for a hard talk. Racing was bleeding them dry, and they agreed it was time to stop. Denny was okay with it—or at least he told himself he was. He’d work at his dad’s shop, leave the track behind, and move on. It felt like the only choice. But then something changed!

Denny Hamlin credits Jim Dean for saving his life from crumbling

But life doesn’t always follow plans. That same year, at Southside Speedway in Virginia, a chance moment shifted Denny’s path forever. Jim Dean, a local businessman and race team owner, was there, not as a friend but as a rival team owner whose cars competed against Denny’s. Dean had watched Denny race, seen the raw skill that set him apart. When he overheard Denny talking about quitting—admitting that lack of funds would end his career—Dean didn’t hesitate. He believed talent like Denny’s deserved a shot, and he wasn’t about to let it fade.

Hamlin revealed on the ‘On Track with Annie Podcast,’ five days ago, “Well, you know, I got the, my break really came from this guy named Jim Dean.” Denny shared, “He had two cars that I raced against, and he heard me saying that this is it for me, like I can’t, I’m not going to be able to go any further because of funding, and he said, you know, listen, if you’re not on the racetrack and my cars win, I didn’t feel like I beat the best, so I want to make sure I pay for you to keep going. And so, that was the big break.” Denny’s parents, especially his dad, had poured everything into racing. Selling their equipment was a gamble, a leap of faith in a kid who’d always delivered. Even Curtis Markham played a role in getting him a tryout at JGR.

Hamlin said while continuing his emotional saga, “I called him up on Tuesday… he was like, hey, me and one of my drivers just had a falling out, just hop in my car this weekend, and we dominated the race. It was, you know, wildly successful, and at that point.” That weekend, Denny climbed into Dean’s car with everything to prove. He didn’t just win—he dominated, crossing the finish line with a fire that screamed potential. Dean saw it clear as day and made a bold call. “Tell your parents to sell all your stuff,” he told Denny. “You’re driving for me next year.” It was a lifeline, but it wasn’t easy.

In 2003, Denny Hamlin repaid that trust tenfold. Driving for Dean, he blazed through the season, winning an astonishing 25 of 35 races. That dominance caught the eye of Joe Gibbs Racing, one of NASCAR’s top teams. J.D. Gibbs, Joe’s son, saw Denny test at South Boston Speedway in 2004 and knew he was special. “Hey, look, let’s put him at Darlington, one of the toughest racetracks we have, in the Xfinity Series car and see how he does,’ Gibbs recalled, “He finished eighth.” By late 2004, Denny was testing for JGR, and in 2005, he made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Darlington Raceway, a track he’d later call “my proving ground” after a stellar 2004 Xfinity performance there.

Joe Gibbs himself was struck by Denny’s drive. “Of course, Denny killed it,” Joe Gibbs told RACER. That fire carried Denny to over 50 Cup Series wins, three Daytona 500 victories, and co-ownership of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. But he never forgot the man who made it possible. Dean passed away in 2011, but his legacy lives in every lap Denny takes.

From a kid who nearly walked away to a NASCAR icon, Denny’s story is proof that one person’s belief can change everything. Jim Dean didn’t just save a career, he ignited a legend while showing the world what happens when heart meets opportunity.

Now, let’s take a look at how he became a team owner.

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Denny Hamlin reveals his journey as a NASCAR team owner

Denny Hamlin is many things—driver, dreamer, and now a passionate team owner who’s shaking things up. At 44, he’s not just racing for wins; he’s building a legacy with 23XI Racing alongside Michael Jordan. But it’s not all smooth tracks. Hamlin’s heart is in it, and he’s opening up about the grind.

“I think running some at 23XI is something that I’d like to do,” Hamlin told Dale Jr Download. That wasn’t just talk—he’s all in, juggling his Joe Gibbs Racing seat with ownership duties. He said, “Joe Gibbs Racing has been amazing to me over the 20 years that I’ve been with them. Just fantastic, couldn’t be any better. Joe and that whole group has just been amazing.” He’s chasing a Cup Series title, but he’s also pouring his soul into his team, mentoring drivers like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace.

Owning a team isn’t easy. Hamlin’s blunt about the risks. He revealed, “You always have to plan for it, and you want to give the team proper time to come up with their next plan as well.” Sound exhausting? It is, but he loves it. He’s not just a name on the logo—he’s at the shop, hands-on, inspired by his boss, Joe Gibbs.

What’s tougher is the fight with NASCAR. Denny Hamlin is pushing for more horsepower to give fans the thrilling races they crave. “I don’t see a reason not to go back to the 750 [horsepower] and just try it,” Hamlin said. “Please, let’s go back to the 750, and let’s just try and see if it puts it back in the drivers’ hands,” he pleaded on SiriusXM. He’s frustrated with NASCAR’s excuses about new manufacturers delaying changes. And don’t get him started on costs.

Denny’s not slowing down. As a driver, he’s hungry. As an owner, he’s relentless. That’s the heart of a racer building something bigger than himself.