Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin recently opened up about his seven-year-old daughter Molly’s excitement over her newborn baby brother, Jameson Drew Hamlin, born on June 11. Highlighting the deep bond between the siblings, Hamlin emphasized Molly’s protective nature, explaining that she would shield Jameson even at her own expense.
Speaking on his podcast Actions Detrimental, Hamlin described how Molly, who usually carries around toy dolls, now treats Jameson like a precious real infant, carefully carrying him around their home with great affection.
“You know how she carries around the fake baby dolls? She’s doing that now with a real baby doll. I mean, just toting this thing all around the house and we’re kind of like, but we would know that she would sacrifice her body if she tripped before hurting that child,” Denny Hamlin said (09:36 onwards).
Hamlin and his fiancée Jordan Fish are also parents to 12-year-old daughter Taylor, completing their family of five.
Hamlin’s recent racing highlights following family milestone
Hamlin missed the NASCAR race in Mexico City to be present for Jameson’s birth but was granted a playoff waiver. Returning to competition, Hamlin finished second at the Pocono Raceway Cup race on June 22, solidifying his position as the No. 1 seed in the newly introduced $1 million In-Season Challenge, set to begin this weekend.
At Pocono, the 44-year-old driver earned the pole position, led 32 laps, and won Stage 1, though he ultimately finished just behind his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe by 0.682 seconds. The first chase event will take place at EchoPark Speedway, formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Hamlin will face off against No. 32 seed Ty Dillon in a head-to-head race where placement, not points, determines advancement.
Choosing the baby’s name: Hamlin’s efforts to influence the decision
During the podcast, Hamlin also recounted the process of deciding on the name for their son. He revealed that he tried persistently to convince Jordan Fish to agree to the name “James Jet,” though ultimately they selected Jameson Drew Hamlin.
“I tried to sell her on James Jet for a very, very long time. I think I had wore her down enough to get that through the goal line, but we came up with others that, you know, there was one in particular we came really close to, Miles Miller,” Denny Hamlin said (08:43 onwards).
“I liked the if we didn’t go with JD, I liked first and middle initials to be the same because it just kind of rolls off the tongue,” he added.
Hamlin expressed a desire to honor Jim Dean, the car owner for whom he raced in late models before joining Joe Gibbs Racing, partly influencing the choice to use “JD” initials.
The significance of family and racing commitments intersecting
Denny Hamlin’s reflections on his family, especially his protective daughter Molly, reveal the strong bonds that drive his life off the track. Balancing fatherhood with the intense demands of NASCAR competition, Hamlin’s recent performances underscore his focus and determination. His role as the top seed in the In-Season Challenge reflects his skill and resilience, while his family’s newest addition brings a new chapter filled with love and responsibility.
The upcoming races will test Hamlin’s competitive edge further, as he aims to continue Joe Gibbs Racing’s success and make his mark while maintaining a close-knit family life.
