JGR already has already signed potential Denny Hamlin replacement

Denny Hamlin is one of the all-time greats in NASCAR and Joe Gibbs Racing already has a ready-made replacement for when the 45-year-old decides to retire

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Denny Hamlin, a NASCAR legend, could have a potential successor already waiting in the wings at Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota's rising star Brent Crews.

Earlier this year, Hamlin inked a contract extension with JGR, ensuring his place on the team until at least 2027. With a distinguished 20-year tenure in the Cup Series, Hamlin has earned a reputation as one of the most respected and vocal drivers on the circuit, despite still pursuing that elusive Cup Series championship.

But his new contract came alongside a retirement hint, while he recently admitted a tough road ahead in the Championship battle despite his impressive results this year.

This season, the driver of the No. 11 Toyota has clinched consecutive victories at Martinsville and Darlington; he bagged his 56th career NASCAR win by taking the lead on the final restart and holding off William Byron in the Goodyear 400, just a week after his Martinsville triumph. Hamlin then racked up wins at Michigan and Dover, tallying a series-leading four victories in 2025.

Once his new contract expires, Hamlin is anticipated to either retire or shift to part-time racing for 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns with NBA icon Michael Jordan. While there are several potential candidates Joe Gibbs Racing could consider to fill Hamlin's shoes, Crews has emerged as a top contender.

Currently, Crews is a part-time competitor in the NASCAR Truck Series, having made three starts this year with TRICON Garage. The 17 year old's standout performance was at the Lime Rock road course, where he started fifth and finished eighth.

Crews has been tearing up the ARCA circuit this season, snagging victories in Phoenix, North Carolina, and Indianapolis as a young gun for Joe Gibbs Racing. And should the team decide to go for a home-grown young talent to replace Hamlin at the end of his two-year deal, The Athletic has named him as a contender for the seat.

Like racing icon Hamlin, Crews isn't just about speed on the track; he's also got business savvy. He's launched his own NASCAR Truck Series team, Brent Crews Motorsports, which is revving up for its first race at Watkins Glen on Friday, August 8.

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"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," Crews reminisced.

"Even though everyone would tell them they were crazy, it always sounded like so much fun to me. 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. ".

Behind the wheel of the No. 70 Toyota, Crews will be chasing glory while his team sets up shop at the Nitro Motorsports Trans-Am headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. On the flip side, Hamlin is gearing up for his next challenge at Watkins Glen when the Cup Series hits the track again on Sunday, August 10.