NASCAR has granted Denny Hamlin a playoff waiver after he missed the inaugural Viva México 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on June 8, 2025. The 44-year-old driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE opted to remain at home following the birth of his third child, his first son, with fiancée Jordan Fish. This decision ended his remarkable streak of 406 consecutive Cup Series starts dating back to 2014 .
Under NASCAR’s revised waiver policy for the 2025 season, drivers who miss a race for non-medical reasons—such as participating in another racing series—are typically required to forfeit all accumulated playoff points and begin the postseason with the base 2,000 points . However, the policy includes exceptions for medical emergencies, childbirth, and family crises. Given that Hamlin’s absence was due to the birth of his child, NASCAR deemed it a qualifying family emergency, thereby preserving his playoff points .
This waiver is particularly significant for Hamlin, who has secured three wins in the 2025 season—including a victory at Michigan International Speedway just days before the Mexico City race. He currently ranks third in the championship standings, trailing leader William Byron by 82 points
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