Denny Hamlin to skip Mexico City NASCAR Cup race, Ryan Truex to drive JGR car

Fresh off his third victory of the season at Michigan, Denny Hamlin will sit out the first-ever Cup race in Mexico, staying home with long-time partner Jordan Fish following the birth of their son. The couple already have two daughters together. 

Hamlin released the following statement on Thursday, saying: “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 hasn’t missed a Cup race in over 400 races. He did not take part in the March, 2014 Cup race at in Fontana, California, as he was dealing with a sinus infection that was affecting his vision.

Ryan Truex, the younger brother of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., will replace him behind the wheel of No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Truex has just 26 Cup starts and none since the 2014 season — almost 11 years ago. Most recently, Truex competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JGR, winning three races since 2023. 

While NASCAR introduced a stricter playoff waiver policy for 2025, promising to strip drivers of all playoff points if they need a waiver for non-medical reasons, Hamlin doesn’t need to worry. Missing a race for the birth of a child is covered under valid medical reasons, so there is no penalty for Hamlin in requesting a playoff waiver. The team has already indicated that they will apply for such a waiver to remain eligible for the 2025 NASCAR Cup playoffs.