Denny Hamlin to miss NASCAR's first international race after birth of son
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Denny Hamlin will miss NASCAR's first international race of the modern era to remain in North Carolina following the birth of his child.
Ryan Truex will replace him Sunday in Mexico City.
Advertisement
'See you guys in Pocono,' Hamlin posted on social media. 'We are happy to announce the birth of our son. Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five.'
Hamlin and fiancee Jordan Fish now have three children, two daughters and a son born Wednesday. Hamlin had been on baby watch the last 12 days as Fish went nearly two weeks past her predicted due date.
He had planned to get out of the car at Michigan last Sunday if she went into labor early in the race, but when the first stage passed with no word, he went on to score his third win of the season. The victory was the 57th of his career and made him the all-time winningest driver at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Through 15 races this season, Hamlin ranks third in the overall Cup Series standings.
Advertisement
Truex, younger brother of former JGR full-time driver Martin Truex Jr., is Gibbs' reserve driver. His last Cup Series start was in 2014 and he has 26 starts at NASCAR's top level.
Hamlin will need NASCAR to grant him a waiver to be eligible to compete in the playoffs for the Cup Series championship. NASCAR during the offseason tightened the rules for granting waivers, but said it would permit a driver skipping an event for the birth of a child.
The 44-year-old Hamlin will snap his streak of 406 consecutive starts. Hamlin last missed a race in 2014 at California Speedway because of an eye irritation.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
13 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Belmont Stakes to be run at Saratoga Race Course again in 2026, a third time in a row
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — The Belmont Stakes is set to be run at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York for a third consecutive year in 2026. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York Racing Association announced Friday that it will be the third and last time the Triple Crown finale is held there before returning to Belmont Park on Long Island in 2027. 'Saratoga has served our fans and stakeholders extremely well as the temporary home of the Belmont Stakes during the construction of a new Belmont Park on Long Island,' NYRA president and CEO David O'Rourke said. 'Belmont Park will always be the home of the Belmont Stakes and we look forward to its return to the newly reimagined Belmont in 2027.' It was confirmation of an expected extension of the race's stay at Saratoga while Belmont Park undergoes nearly a half-billion dollar renovation project . It is on track to reopen in September 2026, with the Breeders' Cup returning to New York at Belmont Park in the fall of 2027. The Belmont will again be run at 1 1/4 miles instead of its traditional 1-1/2 mile distance that has been known as the 'test of the champion.' That has been the case the past two years, as well, because of the configuration of the main dirt track. ___ AP horse racing:
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Surge in viewers leads ION TV to extend current 3-year broadcasting deal with WNBA
NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark's arrival and a major surge in viewers over the past year led to ION Television reaching a multiyear agreement on Friday to extend its broadcasting partnership with the WNBA. ION, which is owned by the Cincinnati, Ohio-based, E.W. Scripps Company, did not reveal the length or value of the contract, which extends the network's original deal reached in 2023 to broadcast regular-season games and host a weekly studio show. Advertisement The existing three-year deal is worth $13 million per season. In a release, ION said the average viewership for its WNBA Friday Night Spotlight show increased by 133% from 2023 to '24, and attracted more than 23 million unique viewers, including game coverage. The jump coincides with Clark's celebrated rookie season in Indiana last year. The network reaches more than 128 million homes though its various platforms. Last year, the WNBA struck an 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC that begins in 2026 and is worth about $200 million a year. ___ AP WNBA: The Associated Press
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shane van Gisbergen on Cup experience so far: 'I feel like I've had to start again'
Shane van Gisbergen on Cup experience so far: 'I feel like I've had to start again' Shane van Gisbergen breaks down his rookie experience in the Cup Series so far, including the challenges, upswings and support at Trackhouse.
