New Year’s Eve wasn’t entirely joyous for NASCAR as news broke that the sport had lost an icon in the form of Cale Yarborough. While the world celebrated and looked ahead to the new year, the NASCAR community mourned the loss of a legend from the past. As the 2024 season kicks in, drivers will continue to pay tribute to the late great racer. One such driver is Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Hamlin, who had another disappointing season last year in his quest for the elusive Cup Series title, will be looking to begin the new season on a strong note. He has won the Daytona 500 three times in the past, making it a race of great significance for him, both personally and professionally.
If Hamlin manages to win the 2024 Daytona 500, he will tie Cale Yarborough for four wins at The Great American Race. It would be the perfect way to honor the three-time Cup Series champion. However, as history has shown, winning at The Great American Race is no easy task. Hamlin’s last triumph at the event came three seasons ago.
Hamlin currently drives the #11, the same number that Yarborough did back in the 1970s with Junior Johnson and Associates and Howard & Egerton Racing. The late legend holds the record as the first driver to win the Cup Series thrice consecutively, from 1976 to 1978. While Hamlin has not made much progress in matching that record, he certainly is one of the best drivers today.
After Yarborough’s passing, Hamlin took to Twitter to express his respect for the three-time Cup Series champion, acknowledging the legacy of the #11. He even hinted at possibly running a paint scheme to honor Yarborough, regardless of what happens at the Daytona 500.
Tributes poured in from the NASCAR community for the late racing legend. Former Cup Series driver Kenny Wallace uploaded a video honoring Yarborough’s storied career and enviable statistics. Dale Earnhardt Jr also paid tribute to the man his dad raced against several times on the track.
