Denny Hamlin’s rollercoaster offseason: Lawsuit win, father’s death, and a return to racing
February 3, 2026
Denny Hamlin is gearing up for the upcoming NASCAR season, which unofficially begins with The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina. Hamlin’s offseason has been tumultuous. He lost the Cup Series championship in November and faced a federal antitrust trial in December. The trial involved his team, 23XI Racing, and resulted in a settlement with NASCAR. Tragically, Hamlin’s father passed away in a house fire in late December. Despite these challenges, Hamlin, the oldest full-time driver in the Cup Series, is committed to racing. The season officially starts with the Daytona 500 on February 15.