Denny Hamlin drops NASCAR injury bombshell after | Sports News

NASCAR star Denny Hamlin dropped a main injury bombshell forward of begin of the 2026 season.

Hamlin revealed he has re-torn a proper shoulder injury that has haunted him since 2024 and can attempt to race by way of the season as an alternative of present process surgical procedure. The information comes amid an emotionally turbulent NASCAR offseason that has examined one of stock car racing’s high opponents each bodily and mentally. 

At a media availability forward of the exhibition Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium this Wednesday, Hamlin, who obtained a main sponsorship enhance forward of the Daytona 500, confirmed the extent of his injury and outlined his choice to forego the standard 3–4 month restoration period following surgical procedure.

Hamlin revealed that the shoulder, surgically repaired after the 2023 season, was aggravated late in 2025 and finally “re-tore” after a fall whereas Hamlin was sorting by way of the rubble of his dad and mom’ home after a devastating home fire. 

“This is something that didn’t feel right,” Hamlin stated, describing the second his shoulder gave out again during what ought to have been a mundane activity. 

Rather than endure a prolonged restoration that may sideline him for a significant slice of the Cup Series schedule, he selected to push ahead and compete by way of the ache.

Hamlin’s announcement follows a brutal run of occasions over the previous few months. After narrowly lacking out on his first Cup Series championship with a second-place end within the 2025 standings, he confronted a extremely publicized antitrust lawsuit involving his 23XI Racing staff and NASCAR that dominated a lot of his offseason focus. 

When describing the emotional toll of these intertwined setbacks, Hamlin stated the simple factor can be to really feel sorry for himself. “The easy thing to say is, ‘Poor me,’” he stated, reflecting on the previous months and the difficulties of returning to racing. “But I still have a fantastic life, a great family. A lot of people go through tragic tragedies.” 

Despite the adversity, Hamlin stays resolute about competing. NASCAR’s new championship construction, the place solely the highest 16 drivers within the common season standings advance to the Chase for the Championship, additional influences his selection to remain within the car moderately than sit out for surgical procedure and restoration. The altered format has raised the stakes on consistency and availability, making missed races particularly pricey for title contenders. 

“Every day is a new challenge and the priorities shifted in the offseason and doing non-racing stuff. I had (one) day at the race shop since Phoenix. It’s just going to take a little while to get back into the swing of things. I’ve been doing my work for the last 20something years and this is a good warmup weekend to that,” Hamlin said to the media.

“It actually has not been an straightforward offseason by any means. I’m most likely in a totally different headspace than most of the opponents. I would definitely admire a few more months, however I haven’t got that.”