Denny Hamlin will not compete in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Mexico City this weekend.
Hamlin and fiancée Jordan Fish welcomed their third child, and first son, this week with the driver of the No. 11 for Joe Gibbs Racing choosing to remain home with his family. Ryan Truex will drive for the team in the Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez instead.
“We are happy to announce the birth of our son,” Hamlin said in a statement. “Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five.”
This will mark the first race Hamlin has missed at the highest level since March 2014 when he missed a race at Auto Club Speedway due to a health issue.
Already a three-time winner in the Cup Series this season, Joe Gibbs Racing will have to request a playoff waiver for Hamlin to remain eligible for the Round of 16 and retain all 18 playoff points earned to this stage of the season, and JGR has confirmed its intention to do so.
NASCAR has already indicated that it would grant such a waiver for paternity reasons.
Truex is the younger brother of 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. He last competed in the Cup Series in 2014 but has raced in recent years part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing and is the company's simulator driver and backup driver for scenarios exactly like this.