Denny Hamlin recently received a thoughtful surprise ahead of the holiday season when his fiancée, Jordan Fish, ordered a special Denny Hamlin merchandise gift as his Christmas present. The gesture sparked a lighthearted reaction from former NASCAR Cup Series driver Kenny Wallace, whose own merchandise store was the source of the gift, adding a dose of positivity as Hamlin prepares for the 2026 racing season.
Wallace, a veteran of the NASCAR Cup Series, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his warm response to Fish’s order, ultimately revealing the gift was intended for Hamlin, who recently finished as runner-up in the 2025 season. The story highlights a supportive community among racing’s familiar faces as Hamlin looks forward to another chance at the title with Joe Gibbs Racing and his #11 Toyota Camry XSE.
Kenny Wallace’s Surprise and the Special Gift
Kenny Wallace, who debuted in the Cup Series in 1990, had a storied 18-year career with 344 starts, 27 top-ten finishes, and three poles, before transitioning to a media career with FOX Sports and launching his popular podcast, Coffee with Kenny. In addition to his broadcasting and podcasting work, Wallace operates Shopkennywallace.com, where fans can purchase branded merchandise.
This holiday season, Wallace found himself pleasantly surprised when an order came through from Jordan Fish, Hamlin’s fiancée. Initially puzzled over who the intended recipient was, Wallace soon learned the t-shirt was a Christmas gift for Hamlin. In response, he publicly thanked Fish and offered support to Hamlin as he heads into another season.
“All of us at Shopkennywallace.com saw an order come through from Jordan Fish. We thought to ourselves who is she buying this for? Today we found out Thank you, @missjfish. And that shirt will bring you good luck @dennyhamlin”
— Kenny Wallace, former NASCAR driver and FOX Sports reporter
Reflections After a Challenging Finish to the 2025 Season
Denny Hamlin’s 2025 campaign ended in heartbreak as he finished second in the championship standings, behind Kyle Larson. Larson, competing for Hendrick Motorsports, pulled ahead in the decisive laps at Phoenix Raceway on November 2, claiming his second Cup Series title as Hamlin closed out the race in sixth place.
Hamlin, a seasoned role model in the sport, displayed resilience in the aftermath, reflecting on the tough calls made during the final race. The key moment unfolded when Hamlin opted for a four-tire pit stop, while many competitors—Larson included—chose only two, shifting him further back in the field as the laps wound down.
“Yeah, nothing I can do different. Prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend. My team gave me a fantastic car. Just didn’t work out. I was just praying for no caution. Had one there. What can you do? Just not meant to be.”
— Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
He added further insight, demonstrating confidence in his decisions and support for his crew:
“We took four tires. I thought that definitely was the right call. Just so many cars took two there. Obviously put us back. Team did a fantastic job. They prepared a championship car. Just didn’t happen. I’ll try (to win a title again). I got a couple more shots at it,”
he added.
— Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Despite finishing short of the championship, Hamlin showed strong sportsmanship, offering congratulations to his rival, and in return, received recognition from the winning driver, Kyle Larson.
What This Means Heading Into the Next Season
The exchange surrounding the Denny Hamlin merchandise gift reflects a close-knit NASCAR community, where camaraderie and encouragement are offered even among fierce competitors. As Hamlin prepares for the 2026 season, support from peers like Kenny Wallace and loved ones like Jordan Fish could provide an added boost as he continues his pursuit of a long-awaited series title.
The recent turn of events further cements Hamlin’s reputation as a resilient driver and respected figure, both on and off the track. With a solid team at Joe Gibbs Racing and a devoted fan base, Hamlin will enter the upcoming Cup Series campaign, hoping to convert near-misses into a career-defining championship victory.
All of us at https://t.co/dyFMnO11lh saw an order come through from Jordan Fish.
We thought to ourselves who is she buying this for?
Today we found out😀
Thank you, @missjfish . And that shirt will bring you good luck @dennyhamlin 🏁 pic.twitter.com/wQo5DBaPNX— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) December 25, 2025
