In a candid conversation this week on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin revealed a deeply personal conflict: he may forgo the upcoming Cup Series race in Mexico City if his fiancée, Jordan Fish, hasn’t welcomed their third child by the time he must depart .
Hamlin, who sits third in the regular-season standings with three wins and multiple stage victories, emphasized that his priorities are set. “If she hasn’t had it by the time I need to leave for Mexico, then I’m not going to go,” he stated. He reiterated that Jordan’s well‑being and their new baby’s arrival are paramount over racing for the weekend .
To prepare for his potential absence, JGR has secured veteran Xfinity winner Ryan Truex as a standby driver. Truex previously filled in at Nashville and Michigan and is on deck for the Viva México 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (scheduled for June 15) . Hamlin even confirmed that Truex has been training in the simulator and that his car setup can easily be adapted, given their similar build .
NASCAR’s playoff rules are flexible for such family circumstances. Hamlin would qualify for a waiver to retain his 18 playoff points and standings position, as the birth of a child is explicitly listed as an excused absence for such waivers .
This Mexico outing marks a historic moment: it’s the Cup Series’ first points-paying international race since 1958. But for Hamlin, it intersects with an even more significant milestone—his baby’s birth—putting family above racing amid NASCAR history .
