Denny Hamlin’s weekend in Las Vegas started with a $126,150 slot machine jackpot and a chorus of groans from NASCAR fans. As the Joe Gibbs Racing driver prepares for the Pennzoil 400 on March 16, his casino windfall has reignited debates about wealth, luck, and the sport’s sponsorship struggles.
While Hamlin’s crew unloaded his No. 11 Toyota at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, social media lit up with sarcasm. Critics called it a case of the rich getting richer while supporters might argue it is just another lap in Hamlin’s charmed career.
Denny Hamlin’s $126K Slot Machine Win Divides NASCAR Fans
Hamlin struck gold on the night of March 14, on a Buffalo slot machine, posting a clip of the moment with a caption: “Oh $@#%&.” The win, while pre-tax, adds to his reputation as a Las Vegas high-roller. Earlier in the month, he won $300,000 in a blackjack tournament. Last year, he detailed how a Phoenix gas station Powerball ticket netted him $50,000 in 2022.
But this time, the timing stung. Fans noted Hamlin’s recent sponsorship woes, with FedEx ending its 19-year partnership with him in 2024 and his seventh-place standing in the Cup Series. “Ole goodie a rich man getting richer,” tweeted one user.
Ole goodie a rich man getting richer
— tony holstein (@tholstein32) March 15, 2025
“Hamlin winning tomorrow confirmed ✅,” said another user.
Another jabbed, “plenty of money to start shopping for sweaters in the men’s department,” referencing Hamlin’s recent fashion choices.
Another took a shot at his accolades: “That’s the biggest prize he’ll win all year.”
That's the biggest prize he'll win all year.
— Seb Kowalke (@SebKowalke) March 15, 2025
The 44-year-old, meanwhile, shifts focus to the March 16 race. He’s earned four top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile track (though just one in the Pennzoil 400) since his 2021 South Point 400 win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Sponsorship Shortfalls and High-Stakes Gambles
Hamlin’s jackpot comes amid a rocky sponsorship season. National Debt Relief and ampm have filled gaps left by FedEx, but funding remains tight.
“It is tough out there. Sponsorship is hard to come by, and certainly, while it is such an important time in our sport to recognize that sponsorship dollars are not flowing like they used to for sure,” Hamlin admitted in February. His team, Joe Gibbs Racing, faces pressure to keep the No. 11 competitive without a primary backer.
NEWS!@ampm, a top-ranked C-store brand based on the west coast, will be featured as the primary sponsor of @dennyhamlin's No. 11 for a pair of #NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma (July 13) and Las Vegas (October 12). pic.twitter.com/ypK1IDJXLh
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) March 12, 2025
Meanwhile, Hamlin’s gambling wins highlight a stark contrast. His estimated $65 million net worth, per Celebrity Net Worth, bolstered by 23XI Racing co-ownership and past earnings, fuels perceptions of disconnect.
“Then he woke up this morning and he’s still Denny Hamlin, bad luck,” quipped a fan on X.
But Hamlin’s focus stays on the track. Sitting seventh in points, he’s eyeing his first 2025 win. A strong qualifying run on Saturday could silence critics or amplify them. After all, in Vegas, fortune favors the bold. And Hamlin’s never been one to play it safe.