Denny Hamlin
FILE - Driver Bubba Wallace wears a Black Lives Matter shirt as he prepares for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Martinsville, Va., in this Wednesday, June 10, 2020, file photo. In a most unusual year already thrown into chaos by the coronavirus pandemic, many athletes took unprecedented steps when a nationwide reckoning on race spilled into the streets of American cities after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, while in Minneapolis police custody. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020

By Cliff Brunt Dec. 29, 2020 01:41 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in in Game 6 to win baseball's World Series in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
Amid anguish of pandemic, sports offered memorable moments

By John Marshall Dec. 25, 2020 01:01 PM EST

- FILE - In this Wednesday, March 4, 2020, file image, F1 driver Max Verstappen of The Netherlands drives his car through one of the two banked corners during a test and official presentation of the renovated F1 track in the beachside resort of Zandvoort, western Netherlands. The iconic Monaco Grand Prix was added Thursday to a growing list of Formula One races to be postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak. The first seven races of the Formula One season have now been postponed, with Netherlands and Spain joining Monaco as the latest to be called off. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
The Latest: Pro Motocross cancels season-opening event

By The Associated Press Mar. 19, 2020 03:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 26, 2019, file photo, Martin Truex Jr., left, is congratulated by team owner Joe Gibbs in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. NASCAR's season officially opens Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
With champs in tow, Gibbs stands tall as class of NASCAR

By Dan Gelston Feb. 14, 2020 03:43 PM EST

FILE - This is a 1975, file photo showing race car driver Buddy Baker poses at Daytona Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Baker, a former Daytona 500 winner who passed away in 2015, will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/File)
Gibbs brings Stewart and Labonte into NASCAR Hall of Fame

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 30, 2020 03:24 PM EST

Team owner Joe Gibbs, left, speaks after being given the Bill France Award of Excellence at the NASCAR Cup Series Awards on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Joe Gibbs honored with NASCAR's award of excellence

Jenna Fryer Dec. 05, 2019 08:00 PM EST

Team owner Joe Gibbs stands next to the championship trophy after his driver Kyle Busch won a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
Gibbs wins 5th NASCAR title in season dedicated to late son

By Mark Long Nov. 17, 2019 08:46 PM EST

Team owner Joe Gibbs watches practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Gibbs, soon to turn 79, won three Super Bowls coaching the Washington Redskins and can win his fifth NASCAR Cup Series championship if Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin have the best finish. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASCAR Cup Series at Homestead-Miami

Nov. 16, 2019 02:42 PM EST

Team owner Joe Gibbs watches practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Gibbs, soon to turn 79, won three Super Bowls coaching the Washington Redskins and can win his fifth NASCAR Cup Series championship if Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin have the best finish. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASCAR championship push tinged with sadness for Joe Gibbs

By Dan Gelston Nov. 16, 2019 01:04 PM EST

Team owner Joe Gibbs, left, talks with Chase Elliott before qualifications for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Thursday, May 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Joe Gibbs says success all about finding the right people

By Steve Reed May. 23, 2019 06:40 PM EDT

Denny Hamlin burns his tires after winning a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Joe Gibbs dedicates Daytona 500 victory to late son

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 18, 2019 02:16 AM EST

Ryan Blaney (12), Aric Almirola (10), Paul Menard (21), David Ragan (38) and Matt DiBenedetto (95) start a multi-car wreck between Turns 3 and 4 during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The Latest: Denny Hamlin wins 2nd Daytona 500 in 4 years

Feb. 17, 2019 07:49 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2011 file photo, J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, speaks during a news conference before the NASCAR Nationwide auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Joe Gibbs Racing says co-founder J.D. Gibbs, the eldest son of team owner and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, has died. He was 49. The team announced J.D. Gibbs' death on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, saying he passed from complications following a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Joe Gibbs' eldest son dies at 49 from neurological disease

Jan. 12, 2019 04:53 PM EST