Denny Hamlin honored by Richmond Raceway as he addresses Corey Heim rookie status

Richmond Raceway has honored the family of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin by dedicating a permanent commemorative bench and plaque at the exact location where his parents sat as fans. The tribute, located in Section H, Row 11, Seats 10–11, recognizes the family’s long-standing connection to the track and the sacrifices made to support Hamlin’s early racing career.

Separately, Hamlin addressed news regarding driver Corey Heim’s eligibility for the NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year award. Hamlin, a co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing, stated he was unaware that Heim’s part-time race allocations would disqualify him from the award in 2027. Under updated NASCAR rules, Heim’s 15 previous Cup Series starts exceed the 12-start threshold required to maintain rookie status.