“You Really Need to Get Out of That”—Denny Hamlin Reveals Dale Earnhardt Jr Advised Him to Quit JGR Once & Sign With DEI

If Denny Hamlin wasn’t driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would his career trajectory have been any different? One of the most talented drivers in NASCAR’s history, Hamlin has been a part of the JGR family for more than 17 years now. And honestly, not many NASCAR enthusiasts could imagine Hamlin driving for any other team. Except for Dale Earnhardt Jr!

In the recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin revealed that his friend Dale Jr did not want him to stay at Joe Gibbs Racing. During the conversation, co-host Jared Allen asked Hamlin if he has ever been offered to drive for another team. Hamlin replied,

 “The answer’s yes. So, I don’t know how many people know this but, I signed with JGR in 2004. This was about the time that me and Dale Jr started a friendship from racing online together. And I actually went to the Daytona 500 in 2004 to be a guest of his. And he had me staying with Martin Truex oddly enough in a little townhouse with Josh Snyder, and a few of his other buddies.”

Furthermore, Hamlin revealed that he signed his development deal with JGR the very same weekend in 2004.

Was Denny Hamlin Unhappy at Joe Gibbs Racing?

Not exactly. But things weren’t that great either. Apart from a few truck races, nothing much happened for Hamlin at JGR in 2004. Explaining how he had to beg for an opportunity back then, Hamlin shared that he finally got a chance to drive in a Darlington Xfinity Race in 2005.

READ MORE: “He Learned So Much From His Dad” – Denny Hamlin Ranks Dale Earnhardt Jr High in Lesser-Talked-About NASCAR List

Concerned about Hamlin’s future at JGR, Dale Earnhardt Jr urged Hamlin to reconsider his decision. Hamlin revealed,

“In 2005, I run probably 4–5 months into that season. Dale Jr brings me over to his house and he says, ‘You really need to get out of that #20 car.'”

Why Dale Earnhardt Jr wanted Denny Hamlin to join DEI?

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Hamlin wondered why his friend wanted him to leave JGR. Sharing what exactly Junior told him back then, he said,

“He was like, ‘Well, just no one has really run good in that (#20).’ Because at the time Mike Bliss had run it. This is before the #20 car in Xfinity relay was winning a lot of races. That didn’t happen two years down the road. And he said that ‘I think there is better opportunities out there. I think you should come drive for us at DEI in the #15 NAPA car.'”

Well, that was like a direct ticket to the Cup Series! But as everyone knows, Hamlin did not take up the offer. Explaining how he did not feel ready for racing in the Cup Series back then, Hamlin said that he was flattered by Earnhardt’s words.

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However, he did admit that he might have jumped in on the opportunity had it been offered to him at this age and time. But back in 2005, it didn’t seem like a good idea for Hamlin to drive in Cup Series when he wasn’t too confident about his skills.