Denny Hamlin to skip Mexico race for birth of first son

Denny Hamlin — fresh off his third victory this season at Michigan — will miss NASCAR’s inaugural Cup Series race in Mexico to be present for the birth of his first son with longtime partner Jordan Fish.

“We are happy to announce the birth of our son. Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five,” Hamlin stated.

Ryan Truex — younger brother of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. — will take over driving duties in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Truex, who has only 26 Cup starts and last appeared about 11 years ago, has recently competed part-time in NASCAR Xfinity Series with JGR, securing three wins since 2023.

While NASCAR has tightened playoff waiver policies for 2025, Hamlin’s absence for child birth qualifies as a valid medical reason — allowing the team to request a waiver without losing playoff points to remain eligible for the 2025 NASCAR Cup playoffs.