Denny Hamlin is an all-time great NASCAR driver but Joe Gibbs Racing has a ready-made replacement in Toyota prospect Brent Crews.

Earlier this summer, Hamlin agreed to a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing to extend his time with the team through at least 2027. Over a decorated 20-year career in the Cup Series, Hamlin has become one of the most outspoken and revered drivers on the grid — even as he chases an elusive Cup Series championship. 

This season, the No. 11 Toyota driver has secured back-to-back first-place finishes at Martinsville and Darlington; he earned his 56th career NASCAR win by taking over on the final restart and fending off William Byron in the Goodyear 400, a week after winning in Martinsville. Hamlin then added wins at Michigan and Dover to boast a series-best four wins in 2025.

Hamlin has raced his entire career with Joe Gibbs Racing, getting behind the wheel in 695 races so far. His 58 career wins make him the winningest driver in the team’s history, ahead of Kyle Busch. 

Once his new extension runs out, Hamlin is expected to either retire or race part-time for 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan. There are several potential names Joe Gibbs Racing could use to replace Hamlin, as it is a coveted seat, but Crews has emerged as a frontrunner.

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Crews currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Truck Series, making three starts this year with TRICON Garage. The 17-year-old’s most impressive run came at the Lime Rock road course, where he started fifth and finished eighth.

Crews is a proven winner in ARCA, too. This season, the teenager has competed in several ARCA races with Joe Gibbs Racing, winning in Phoenix, North Carolina, and Indianapolis. 

Like Hamlin, Crews is an entrepreneur, not limited to just sitting behind the wheel. He has formed a NASCAR Truck Series team—Brent Crews Motorsports—which is set to debut at Watkins Glen on Friday, August 8. 

“I grew up going to dinner on race weekends with guys like Nick Tucker and Brian Keselowski listening to stories about building race cars and engines out of spare parts and barely getting to the track,” said Crews. “Even though everyone would tell them they were crazy, it always sounded like so much fun to me. 

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“When we started talking about me buying a truck to run Watkins Glen, no one was willing to tell me it was a bad idea, and it just kind of snowballed from there. I sold all my micro sprints to raise some of the money and here we are.”

Crews will be driving the No. 70 Toyota while the team will operate out of the Nitro Motorsports Trans-Am shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. Meanwhile, Hamlin is next in action at Watkins Glen when the Cup Series continues on Sunday, August 10.