Denny Hamlin’s success on the NASCAR circuit has presented him with an unusual dilemma: where to keep his expanding collection of trophies. The seasoned Joe Gibbs Racing driver has amassed so many victories that his home no longer has adequate space to display them all.
Reflecting on this issue, Hamlin shared,
“I don’t have any room for them,”
during a recent episode of Actions Detrimental. He explained that when he designed his current residence, he had around 30 wins and didn’t anticipate needing much more room.
“They’re underneath the stairs. I wish I really had a place for them. I mean, there are plenty of places I could put them, but I don’t like the trophies up on the main level where we live, other than right at the entrance,”
Hamlin added.
Finding Creative Displays Within the Home
At one point, Hamlin stored some trophies beneath a table in the entryway of his home. He reflected on those days, saying,
“The table’s getting full. A few years ago, I had them underneath that table in the entry walkway. I remember thinking, ‘That was a good year.’”
This highlights how quickly his collection has grown and how he has had to adapt his storage solutions to accommodate the wins.
Hamlin’s successful 2025 season, with five victories so far, has further strained his trophy space, sparking thoughts about whether he should have built a larger trophy case when he moved. Yet, storing them under the staircase remains less than ideal as it is not the most prominent location in his home.
An Impressive Career Without a Championship Yet
With 59 career wins, Hamlin’s record places him among the top drivers in NASCAR history. Despite this, one major accolade has eluded him: a championship title. Over the weekend, Hamlin was clear about his priorities when speaking to the media, stating,
“It’s always been about number of races.”
He expressed that a championship hasn’t been the main motivator for continuing his career behind the wheel.
Discussing specific goals, Hamlin cited the Daytona 500 as a key race,
“thinking that probably only going to do this twice more. Brickyards, right? I haven’t won the freaking Brickyard. I’m going to have two more shots at it, and that’s it, to round this thing out.”
This underscores his focus on particular race victories rather than championships.
Defining Success Beyond Championships
Hamlin further elaborated on his competitive mindset, emphasizing the importance of race wins over titles:
“There’s certain races that I do have countdowns for. Championships isn’t one of ’em. Obviously, it’s well-documented that I want to get the wins, and I feel like that will carry its weight long after. When you compare me to someone that’s maybe got one or two, maybe three championships, and half the wins, I don’t think that person’s better than I am.”
Looking Ahead to Future Achievements
If Hamlin secures a championship this season, that trophy will likely receive a prime spot in his home rather than being tucked away. While the under-staircase location remains his current solution for trophies earned so far, a championship title would command a more prominent display. With his recent strong performance, Hamlin appears poised to remain a formidable competitor this season and perhaps finally capture the elusive championship he has sought.
