Denny Hamlin pays epic tribute to Carl Edwards for his Darlington paint scheme

Modified Mar 26, 2025 01:38 GMT

NASCAR: Cup Practice and Qualifying - Source: Imagn — NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Source: Imagn

Denny Hamlin is bringing back a piece of NASCAR history with a special throwback paint scheme for Darlington Raceway. The scheme is a tribute to Carl Edwards — a replica of his iconic 2006-07 Office Depot design. The gesture honors Edwards, who is also a 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee.

The news first broke on X when NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass shared an image of the scheme and wrote:

“Denny Hamlin throwback for Darlington is a nod to Carl Edwards paint scheme from 2006-07 (Office Depot scheme). ⁦@NASCARONFOX”

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The official X handle of Joe Gibbs Racing also made the announcement, writing:

“Throwing back to our friend and 2025 @nascarhall inductee Carl Edwards!”

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During his media availability at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Hamlin talked about NASCAR’s throwback weekend. He pointed out how changes in car designs make it harder to recreate classic looks, but the spirit of honoring NASCAR’s past remains alive. He said:

“It seems like the throwback has lost a little of it for sure… there’s really no defined rules for it, so it’s a mix there. But there’s some really cool paint schemes that you see.”

Denny Hamlin has had a mixed start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. After six races, he is eighth in the driver standings with 164 points, 80 points behind leader William Byron. Hamlin has yet to win this season. His average start is 17.333 and his average finish is 13.833.

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, their past performance and history at Martinsville

Following the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Denny Hamlin didn’t hold back while discussing Joe Gibbs Racing’s current performance. Despite JGR winning three races this season — all from Christopher Bell — Hamlin was the only JGR driver to lead laps at Homestead. He said this was a concerning trend.

“I still think we’ve got work to do. I contend that we still don’t have the speed that it takes to lead a ton of laps, which is showing in laps led. We’re not leading laps like we have in the past. All of JGR. So I think we’ve just got to get our cars a little bit faster to really contend week in, week out, right now," Hamlin said (via NASCAR).

Though Hamlin won Stage 2 of the race and finished fifth, he said the team’s overall pace isn’t where it needs to be. With 74 career wins across NASCAR’s top divisions — 54 in the Cup Series — Hamlin is one of the sport’s big names. His next test comes at Martinsville Speedway, a track where he has done well.

Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in multiple categories at Martinsville, including five wins, 20 top-five finishes, 26 top-10s, and 2448 laps led. Joe Gibbs Racing, as a team, has 14 Cup Series wins at the track, with 60 top-five finishes, 91 top-10s, and 12 pole awards over 178 starts.

About the author

Dipti Sood is a Motorsport journalist at Sportskeeda with over three years of experience. A Political Science graduate and aspiring law professional, her love for motorsports ignited when she began following the careers of her favorite F1 drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.

Dipti has previously worked with Sportskeeda in the US Olympics static department, which sparked her interest in sports writing. Her professional journey also includes work with a sports startup, where she honed her copywriting skills. These experiences, combined with her meticulous approach to research and fact-checking, enable her to deliver accurate, ethical, and engaging content.

To stay updated with the latest in motorsports, Dipti follows credible sources such as ESPN, Autosport, and RacingNews365, along with respected journalists like Chris Medland. She also keeps an eye on official social media handles to uncover fresh perspectives.

Outside of writing, Dipti enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and listening to podcasts. A constructors fan with a soft spot for certain drivers, she dreams of witnessing the return of the Buddh International Circuit to the F1 calendar, bringing the excitement of Formula 1 back to India.

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Edited by Parag Jain