Few drivers receive the biggest vote of confidence of their careers before they reach NASCAR’s victory lane. Brent Crews experienced exactly that last month when Cup Series’ oldest driver, Denny Hamlin, unexpectedly identified the 18-year-old O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standout as the driver he believes could one day replace him at Joe Gibbs Racing.
While the comments immediately fueled speculation about the future of the iconic No. 11 Toyota, Crews later admitted he never saw them coming.
For the unversed, the story began in early June after Hamlin’s victory at Michigan International Speedway, when the three-time Daytona 500 winner once again addressed his long-standing (since last season) retirement plan.
The 45-year-old, whose current JGR contract runs through the end of the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season, reiterated that he still intends to step away after that contract expires.
However, the organization has repeatedly stated that they are open to the veteran returning if he were to reconsider.
As Hamlin discussed his retirement timeline, he stressed that he doesn’t want JGR caught off guard when the time comes. That’s when he singled out Brent Crews, saying the teenager could be ready to step into the Cup Series by the end of next year.
For a driver still learning the craft, Hamlin naming him as his successor in the No. 11 was high praise.
Speaking this week on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Crews admitted the endorsement completely blindsided him.
“I did not expect him to say that whatsoever; I swear to you, that was wild,” the Crews said. “I had a big old smile on my face when he did say it because I had no idea.”
Crews added that Hamlin’s comments meant even more because they came from someone he grew up idolizing.
“That was really nice of Denny to say, and I’m very grateful that he’s been watching, and that stuff’s really cool.” — Brent Crews
Interestingly, the connection between the two goes back much further than Toyota’s development ladder. Crews revealed that Hamlin was actually his favorite NASCAR driver growing up, thanks in part to another athlete he admired.
“Denny was my favorite driver as a little kid, my favorite football player was Julio Jones and he was number 11, so automatically Denny was my favorite driver.” Crews said. “So to think when I was five years old, what I know now, I would. . . I don’t know what I would do. But no, it was super cool, and obviously that’s my dream. That’s everybody’s dream, especially from a young age.”
Despite Hamlin’s comments, Crews isn’t actually allowing himself to look too far ahead. The Hickory native is focused on continuing his rookie campaign in NASCAR’s second-tier division, where he has shown flashes of the potential that has made him one of Toyota’s brightest prospects.
Despite missing the opening portion of the season solely because he had not yet reached the minimum age requirement for full-time competition, Crews has quickly become a sensation with 10 top-10s, seven top-5s, and a recent career-defining pole at San Diego.
Stay close to the on-track action this weekend and every weekend by following our Race Weekend Dashboard for everything you need to know before, during, and after the race. Share your thoughts by joining the discussion on Discord or X, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for further updates.
