Denny Hamlin Out of Mexico City Cup Race; Ryan Truex Steps In

Denny Hamlin will not race in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Joe Gibbs Racing announced the news on Thursday, confirming that Hamlin is staying home as he and his fiancée, Jordan Fish, welcomed a baby boy earlier in the week.

This family addition brings them to five members, and Hamlin shared his excitement and gratitude that everyone is healthy. This marks the first Cup race Hamlin will miss since March 2014, when illness kept him off the track at Auto Club Speedway.

In 2025, Hamlin has already clinched three race wins and stands third in the Cup Series driver standings. Despite Hamlin’s absence for the Mexico City race, Joe Gibbs Racing plans to apply for a playoff waiver, which would allow Hamlin to keep his points and playoff eligibility.

NASCAR officials have said that family events such as the birth of a child are valid reasons for missing a race without losing playoff status. Ryan Truex will fill in for Hamlin in the No. 11 Toyota.

Truex, the younger brother of 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., makes his first Cup Series start since 2014. In recent years, Truex has been active in the Xfinity Series, collecting three career wins.

In 2024, he made 11 starts in the Xfinity Series and was part of the opening event of the 2025 season at Daytona International Speedway. This further builds on his experience as a reserve driver for JGR.

The Mexico City event, called the Viva Mexico 250, is set for Sunday, June 15, at 3:00 p.m. ET. This race is significant as it will be the Cup Series’ first international points race since 1958, making it a historic return to the global stage for NASCAR competition.

It follows the Chilango 150, also held at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and comes just before the next scheduled event at Pocono Raceway. Hamlin’s spot in the postseason is not immediately at risk, given his strong run so far in 2025 and his three victories.

However, missing the Mexico City race still requires official approval from NASCAR to maintain his eligibility and preserve the 18 playoff points he has already earned this year. Ryan Truex, now 32, is looking to make the most of his opportunity in the No. 11 car.

For JGR, having Truex step up is a calculated move, as he is familiar with the team, the current generation of race cars, and has shown recent form in the second-tier series. As Hamlin spends time with his family, NASCAR fans will watch a new face take the wheel for the first international Cup Series race in more than six decades.

The schedule moves on quickly, with Hamlin expected to return at Pocono the following week.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.