Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has led 624 laps through the first 12 races of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, the most of any driver.
According to Oval Insider, that represents 19.7% of his total completed laps, placing him 125 laps ahead of second-place Kyle Larson.
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Hamlin also co-owns 23XI Racing with NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Their driver Tyler Reddick leads the Cup Series standings by more than 100 points after five wins, including the Daytona 500.
The dual role creates a unique dynamic: Hamlin sits second in the drivers' standings behind his own employee.
"I hope nothing would be more awkward than me finishing second to Tyler Reddick," Hamlin said.
23XI Racing has grown from a single-car operation with fewer than 25 employees in 2020 to a championship contender.
The organization was recently nominated by Sports Business Journal for Sports Team of the Year, and Jordan for Sports Executive of the Year.
Hamlin compared his pride in the team to parenting: "You're far more proud of their accomplishments than anything you do yourself."
Building a Team with Outside Talent
Hamlin attributed the team's rapid rise to hiring from outside NASCAR. "We've wanted to be game changers," he said.
New hires often bring fresh perspectives, asking, "In Germany, we don't do that."
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The organizational structure empowers department heads, including HR.
