Denny Hamlin’s 2027 Exit Plan Triggers Garage Buzz as Insider Lifts Lid on Joe Gibbs’ Backup Moves

Denny Hamlin’s latest contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing may have guaranteed his seat through 2027, but it also kick-started the countdown to his retirement. When asked if this would be his last extension, Hamlin replied with two simple words– “most likely” – that sent the whole garage talking. The conversations weren’t just about how many wins Hamin will have now, but also who could replace the 44-year-old icon next.

From even before, many had speculated that a winless start to 2025 might lead Hamlin toward the exit sooner, but storming back with four victories, he’s reestablished himself. That played a role in a contract extension itself, but Hamlin did make it clear that his ability to win is going to be “the deciding factor”. He also said that, “If I start tailing off, then the next year I’ll just retire. I can retire whenever I want to retire.” 

But  JGR is not rushing into any decisions or scrambling to fill the eventual void. Instead, the organization is approaching Hamlin’s likely departure with what The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi calls “ample runway.” They reportedly have time to both develop internal talent and assess the broader driver market. That luxury, paired with Toyota’s deep driver development bench, means the succession plan is already taking shape behind closed doors. In fact, as per Bianchi, JGR already has its eyes on a specific name. 

16-year-old Brent Crews, should it come to that. The Toyota Racing Development (TRD) prospect has compiled a résumé far beyond his years. In the ARCA Menards Series, he’s scored four wins in just 12 starts, including multiple outings this year with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he’s won half the races he’s entered. His road-course prowess was on display during a recent Truck Series start at Lime Rock, where he qualified fifth and finished eighth with TRICON Garage. He’s so versatile that in 2023, he became the youngest ever winner and series champion in the SCCA Trans-Am TA2 ProAm class, showcasing the kind of adaptability teams at the Cup level would crave. That said, Crews himself isn’t waiting around for opportunities to come to him; he’s also actively building toward them. 

Ahead of Watkins Glen, he announced the launch of Brent Crews Motorsports, his self-funded Truck Series team, where he’ll drive the No. 70 Toyota. “Even though everyone would tell them they were crazy, it always sounded like so much fun to me,” he said, recalling garage-night stories from Nick Tucker and Brian Keselowski that shaped his racer mindset. To make it happen, he sold his micro sprints and partnered with Nitro Motorsports for shop space. And for a team like JGR, he seems like a cultural fit. But until then, Denny Hamlin remains locked in and has made it clear that he’s still got something to prove. 

Denny Hamlin says he’s hungrier than MJ

In a recent appearance on the Dale Jr. Download, when asked whether Michael Jordan, his 23XI Racing co-owner, is more competitive than he right now, Hamlin didn’t hesitate: “Not in today’s world, no.” The fire, he said, is different when you’re still in the weekly grind. “He doesn’t have to compete each and every week. So when you’re in season or in your job of being a professional sports athlete, your mentality absolutely is different than what it is after you retire.”

At 44, Hamlin’s leading the Cup Series in wins this season and doesn’t sound like someone easing into retirement. “I know MJ as family, as my golfing buddy… but I’m still in the game, still grinding every week,” he said. Jordan has acknowledged Hamlin’s intensity, saying his “competitive juice is no different than mine.” But for Hamlin, that’s the edge: “I’m hungrier than he is right now.”