Hamlin announced that he will miss the Cup Series’ first ever race in Mexico this weekend following the birth of his son. Hamlin and fiancée Jordan Fish also share daughters Taylor James, 12, and Molly Gold Hamlin, 7.
‘We are happy to announce the birth of our son,’ Hamlin announced on social media on June 12. ‘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.’
‘Ultimately I need to be there for her,’ Hamlin said during a June 10 interview on SiriusXM NASCAR. ‘I’m just going to make sure I spend the proper time with her. The racing will come second this week.”
Hamlin is expected to return to racing next weekend. He signed off his birth announcement, writing, ‘See you guys in Pocono,’ referring to the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 22.
It’s been an eventful month for Hamlin. Not only did the Hamlin family welcome baby No. 3, he also picked up his third NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 8.
Hamlin has 57 wins in his Cup Series career, which ranks 11th on the all-time list. While a championship has eluded him, he finished runner-up in 2010 and third three times (2006, 2014 and 2021).
Drivers departed for Mexico City on Thursday with practice for the Viva Mexico 250 beginning Saturday ahead of the Sunday’s June 15 Cup race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Ryan Truex will drive the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in Mexico City, the team announced on June 12, stating that JGR intends to apply for ‘a waiver to maintain his status for the 2025 Playoffs.’
NASCAR classifies the birth of a child as an exemption to its Playoff Waiver System, meaning Hamlin should be eligible to compete for the 2025 Cup Series championship later this year.
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