Denny Hamlin is getting into the burger business.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was announced Monday as being a partner in the ownership of a Little Big Burger store in Cornelius, North Carolina, not far from where he lives.
Originating in Portland, Oregon, in 2010, LBB is fast-casual restaurant concept offering cooked-to-order burgers. Hamlin’s restaurant will be one of 14 LBB locations, with 11 in Oregon.
LBB is a subsidiary of Chanticleer Holdings, Inc., which operates 55 restaurants worldwide. The agreement with Hamlin includes the option for nine potential future locations.
“I’m looking forward to opening my first Little Big Burger right down the street from where I live,” said Hamlin in a press release. “I’m a huge fan of Little Big Burger. The burgers and fries are as good as you can get. I have been impressed with the management team Chanticleer has assembled with Little Big Burger, and I therefore can’t be more excited about being able to further expand this concept to the Charlotte, North Carolina market.”
Hamlin is the latest Cup driver to get involved in a restaurant.
Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is a partner in Southbound, a Southern California-style taco shop in Charlotte that opened last fall.
NBC Sports analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. owns multiple Whiskey River bar locations, including in downtown Charlotte and in a few North Carolina airports.