Denny Hamlin will retain all his playoff points in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs despite missing Sunday’s race in Mexico City. NASCAR granted Hamlin a waiver on Friday after he announced his absence on Thursday to be with his fiancé Jordan Fish for the birth of their son, their third child together.
Ryan Trux, brother of former Joe Gibbs Racing driver and Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., will pilot Hamlin’s car in Mexico City, aiming to finish 11th. Hamlin had indicated he might miss the race for his son’s birth, and Truex was on standby while the couple awaited the arrival of their baby.
NASCAR revised its playoff exemption rules ahead of the 2025 season, stating that drivers who miss races typically lose their playoff points earned during the regular season. However, exceptions, such as the birth of a child, allow for waivers. For example, if Kyle Larson missed the Coca-Cola 600 this year, he would have started the playoffs without any points.
Hamlin recently won at Michigan for the third time in his career, adding to his previous victories at Martinsville and Darlington. He currently sits third in the regular-season standings behind William Byron and Larson, having collected 18 playoff points over 15 races.
Sunday’s race in Mexico City marks NASCAR’s debut Cup Series event in the country, held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez—the same venue as the annual Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, though NASCAR races on a somewhat altered layout around Turn 4.
Fan Take: This news is significant for NASCAR fans as it highlights the sport’s flexibility and recognition of important personal moments for drivers, like the birth of a child. It also sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in NASCAR with its expansion into Mexico, which could grow the sport’s fanbase and add fresh competitive dynamics.
