Following his 59th win in the NASCAR Cup Series, Denny Hamlin spoke heavily in his press conference about retirement. Hamlin signed an extension with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2027, and it appears it will be his last.

Denny Hamlin has talked about retirement in the past. Tonight, he more or less told everyone when he is going to do it. Hamlin has won five races this season at 44 years old. He could keep racing until he is 50. It doesn’t seem like he wants to do that, though.

A number of questions from the media centered around Hamlin’s career and retirement. He was open and honest about his thoughts.

“I mean, certainly there will be a huge, huge void. I’ll find something else to latch onto. Yeah, I mean, certainly I’m a results-based person,” Hamlin said about retirement. “When I can come out here and race against guys like half my age and be able to beat ’em, like, that’s very gratifying for me. That’s what I’m going to miss. That will be the toughest part about hanging it up.”

Even when Denny Hamlin was asked about his comments to the crowd after the win, he alluded to retirement. He’s not holding back, because he might not get another chance to rile the crowd up like that.

“You never know when it’s your last. This could be my last win,” Hamlin said. “This could be the last time i’m talking to you with my driver’s suit on after a race. We just never know. I try my best to enjoy the moment and do the best I can to rile up the fans any chance I get.”

With all of the talk about his retirement, Denny was asked, Why? Why plan it out so far in advance and make 2027 your hard out? After all he’s won five times this season. Who is to say he can’t keep that going?

“Just got to be a means to an end. I’m just not going to leave this sport on my deathbed, you know, just leaking oil, running in the back of the pack. I have way too much pride for that. I’m way too cocky for that,” Hamlin said. “There’s just no way. I want to be able to win my last race. To do that, I’m going to have to retire when I’m racing like this.”

So, is Denny Hamlin concerned he’s running out of time? He looks like the man to beat for the championship right now. But what if he doesn’t get it done again and loses another year?

“It’s always been about number of races,” Hamlin said about his expiring career. “The only one I thought about was this year and the Daytona 500, thinking that probably only going to do this twice more. Brickyards, right? I haven’t won the freaking Brickyard. I’m going to have two more shots at it, and that’s it, to round this thing out.

“There’s certain races that I do have countdowns for. Championships isn’t one of ’em. Obviously, it’s well-documented that I want to get the wins, and I feel like that will carry its weight long after. When you compare me to someone that’s maybe got one or two, maybe three championships, and half the wins, I don’t think that person’s better than I am.”

So, Denny Hamlin is only sticking around a couple more years. What can he accomplish in that time? He is knocking on the door of 60 wins. Hamlin is great at Bristol and will have the chance to get that 60th win in a matter of days. Can he do it? Or will this dream season come to an end?