NASCAR Cup Series star Denny Hamlin could be just hours away from his 'perfect' retirement scenario.
That is according to the Joe Gibbs Racing star himself, who has been quizzed on the ideal circumstances in which he would hang up his racing boots ahead of Sunday's season-defining action at Phoenix.
Hamlin is one of four Cup Series drivers racing for the championship in Arizona, and if he comes out on top, it will be the highlight of his career, with a championship victory having so far evaded him.
Indeed, at 44, it is the last thing for Hamlin to achieve, and if he were to be victorious, he admits it would be the perfect way to ride off into the sunset.
Denny Hamlin talks retirement
So, could Denny do a mic drop and retire from the sport if he wins on Sunday? Think again. As perfect as it would be for the 44-year-old, he says his loyalty to Joe Gibbs Racing would not allow him to do so.
"It would be the perfect scenario for me," Hamlin admitted on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
"It would be the perfect scenario for me personally, but I have to keep into account that I don't know that JGR has an alternative plan right now and in place.
"They're working on the plan for when I'm not here, and right now, it's after a couple [of] years.
"I'm too loyal to JGR to put them in a bad spot, but certainly for me, I would be content with that."
Sunday's championship race at Phoenix gets underway at 3pm ET (NBC).
