Hamlin to Miss NASCAR Cup Series Debut in Mexico City; Truex to Step In
Denny Hamlin will be sidelined for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City due to the birth of his son on June 11. Ryan Truex, the reserve driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and the younger brother of former Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., will assume driving duties in the No. 11 Toyota at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Truex’s entry marks his first race since 2014, having been on standby for Hamlin in recent weeks and actively engaging with the Gibbs program, including part-time commitments in the Xfinity Series.
Hamlin expressed his priorities, stating, "I appreciate everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, our partners, and our fans for the support over the last few weeks, and I look forward to being back at the track next weekend in Pocono." Joe Gibbs Racing plans to apply for a waiver from NASCAR to maintain Hamlin’s playoff eligibility, as the birth of a child qualifies as an acceptable reason to miss a race without losing playoff points. Currently, Hamlin holds three wins this season and ranks third in the championship standings.
The last time Hamlin missed a Cup Series event was in the spring of 2014 at Auto Club Speedway due to health issues related to a sinus infection.
