Denny Hamlin expecting first child

Denny Hamlin at Pocono in June. Credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin announced today at Pocono Raceway that he is expecting his first child with girlfriend Jordan Fish.

The 31-year-old Hamlin, who drives the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, said the baby will arrive in January.

When asked whether marriage is part of his upcoming plans, Hamlin said, "There's no reason to rush into it right now especially with everything that is going on." He added, "We've obviously got a busy six months ahead of us."

Drivers Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick have both recently welcomed their own babies. When asked whether seeing his peers become fathers has prepared him, Hamlin said, "Prepared - I'm going to learn as I go. I'm going to have the training wheels on at the start, but I'm sure now I'm going to get all the advice I can handle, but I'm going to just lean on my parents."

Hamlin will drive in both the Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series this weekend at Pocono.