Denny Hamlin unveils his idea of “fun” while shopping at IKEA

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin posted a video earlier today featuring his youngest daughter and him up to some mischief at the furniture store, IKEA. The 23XI-racing co-owner twirled around with his child on a shopping trolley, posting the "fun" moment to his Instagram stories.

The #11 driver shared the clip featuring his younger daughter, Molly, on Tuesday, December 24, with the caption:

"I like to have fun"

The video was also posted by Hamlin's fianceé Jordan Fish, who had written:

"Take a dad to @ikeausa"

Still from Denny Hamlin's Instagram story (@dennyhamlin)

Denny Hamlin got engaged to his girlfriend Jordan Fish, who he has been with since 2009, at the beginning of 2024. They had daughters Taylor James Hamlin in 2013 and Molly Gold Hamlin in 2017.

The 54-time Cup Series race winner finished the 2024 season in eighth place in the points standings, having won races thrice this year. The JGR driver was eliminated from the playoffs after the third round, this being his third year in a row where he has been eliminated at that point in the championship. Hamlin had 12 top-fives, 18 top-10s, and led 943 laps in the season.

As a co-owner of 23XI Racing, Hamlin also saw success in the form of his team's driver Tyler Reddick who won three races, achieved twelve Top Fives, and 21 Top 10s, putting him in the spot to finish fourth in the championship, nine points behind first place.

Denny Hamlin's eighth-place finish in the championship is his lowest since 2018 when he finished 11th in the standings. His highest was his runner-up position to Jimmie Johnson in 2010.

The 44-year-old will return to drive the #11 for Joe Gibbs Racing next year with a new crew chief, Chris Gayle. Gayle was previously Hamlin's teammate, Ty Gibbs' crew chief, but moved to Hamlin's team following the promotion of his former crew chief.

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Denny Hamlin talks new crew chief for the 2025 Season

Denny Hamlin (left) chats with crew chief Chris Gabehart (right) on pit road before the Wurth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. - Source: Imagn

Denny Hamlin is separating from his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, who has been with the driver and team #11 since 2019. Gabehart is being promoted to Joe Gibbs Racing's Competition Director. Over their time together, Hamlin and Gabehart have won 22 races, 13 of which came from the first two years of their partnership.

For the 2025 season, the #11 driver and team will be joined by Chris Gayle. Gayle and Hamlin have worked together before on eight Xfinity races, including achieving a win together at the Charlotte Speedway in 2016.

Speaking about his relationships with Gabehart and Gayle in November, Hamlin said (via NBC Sports):

“Every relationship has an opportunity to thrive. Certainly, I felt like I had a good one with (Chris) Gabehart and we had some good success. I’ve won with all the crew chiefs that I’ve ever been with. I would suspect that to be the same. I think it’s going to be a welcome change for (Chris Gayle) and welcome change for me to try to go out there and build a new relationship and, obviously, win a lot of races.”

Denny Hamlin, Chris Gayle, and the #11 team will be on the grid once the 2025 season starts in February with the first points race at Daytona.