By Sunday 
Denny Hamlin has made it clear: family comes first. With his longtime partner Jordan Fish expecting their third child — and first son — Hamlin is putting fatherhood above the track this weekend.
While he was willing to bolt from both Nashville and Michigan at a moment’s notice, the upcoming trip to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City is a different story. Given the distance from his North Carolina home, Hamlin has set a hard deadline. If the baby hasn’t arrived by Thursday, he’s staying home — and skipping Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race.
That’s where Ryan Truex steps in again. For the third straight week, the Joe Gibbs Racing reserve driver is on standby. Though he hasn’t raced in the Cup Series since 2014 (with a failed Daytona 500 attempt in 2019), Truex is no stranger to the JGR setup, having competed part-time in the Xfinity Series from 2022 to 2024 — and grabbing three wins along the way.
This isn’t a decision without consequences. Hamlin, currently third in the regular season standings, risks missing out on critical playoff points if he sits out. A zero-point weekend could cost him the eight playoff points awarded for a third-place finish in the standings. Still, NASCAR has confirmed he would receive a playoff waiver for missing the race, given the medical nature of his absence — meaning he’d still keep his 18 playoff points earned so far and remain eligible for more.
Ironically, Hamlin’s been red-hot during baby watch, placing third at Nashville (with a stage win) and nabbing his third win of the season in Michigan. But with the playoffs looming and fatherhood calling, he’s not pushing his luck.
Whether or not he suits up in Mexico, Hamlin has already made the most important call of the weekend.