Denny Hamlin
Vorlage:NASCAR current driver Denny Hamlin is a race car driver currently contracted to Joe Gibbs Racing. He was born on November 18, 1980 in Tampa, Fla. and currently lives in Davidson, N.C.
During the 2004 season, Hamlin caught the eye of Joe Gibbs Racing with a handful of NCTS races while competing full time in Late Models for Dean Motorsports. Hamlin made his NASCAR Busch Series debut at Darlington, dubbed NASCAR's "Toughest Track to Tame". After starting 27th because of a rained out qualifying session, Hamlin patiently and methodically worked his way towards an 8th place finish, as well as a future at Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2005, Hamlin replaced Mike Bliss in the #20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet. He ended up finishing 5th in the final points standings as a rookie in the series.
In 2006, Hamlin will run his first full season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. He made his Cup debut at Kansas Speedway in 2005 after struggling driver Jason Leffler was released after a dismal first half of the season. He finished the Cup season with three Top 10 finishes in seven starts and one pole at Phoenix International Raceway before being named driver of the #11 FedEx Chevrolet for the 2006 season. Hamlin will drive Double Duty in 2006, running for Rookie of the Year in Nextel Cup while also driving the full season for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NBS.
In Hamlin's first restrictor plate race as a NEXTEL Cup driver, he scored the upset by beating all 2005 pole winners in the 70-lap 2006 Budweiser Shootout. By this, Hamlin became the first ever Rookie of the Year candidate to take home the Shootout victory. Hamlin showed the savy of a NASCAR veteran, beating racing superstars Dale Earnhardt Jr and Tony Stewart to the line.
Career history
2006
- Hamlin will be running for the Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year Award in the #11 Fed Ex Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet.
- On February 11, Hamlin started off the season on a high note, winning the prestigious Budweiser Shootout with the assistance of his teammate and mentor, Tony Stewart.
2005
- In the NASCAR Busch Series, Hamlin ran the entire season, finishing 5th in championship points. He had one top 5's, 11 top 10's and earned $1,064,110.00.
- Late in 2005, Hamlin was tapped to replace driver of the Nextel Cup #11 Fed Ex Chevy, Jason Leffler. Making seven starts, Hamlin drove his way to three top tens, and winning one Budweiser pole.
2004
Driving for Dean Motorsports in LMSC Competition in car #99, Competing in NCTS in #03 EJP Racing Chevrolet Truck
- By July had 10 wins in LMSC Competiton
- Won races at four different tracks (South Boston, Hickory, Greenville Pickens, & Southampton Motor Speedway)
- Broke Qualifying Track Record Greenville Pickens
- Competed in First ever NCTS Event at Indianapolis Raceway Park August 6, 2004
- Qualified 7th and finished 10th at IRP
- Scheduled to run Richmond International Raceway, California, Las Vegas and New Hampshire NCTS Events with EJP Racing
- Competed in first ever NASCAR Busch Series event at Darlington Raceway November 13, 2004
- Started 27th (Quals Rained Out), Finished 8th in #18 Joe Gibbs Performance Racing Oil Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2003
Drove for Team Owner Jim Dean in car #99
- Finished Season with 25 Wins, 30 Poles and 33 Top 5's
- Won races at five different tracks (South Boston, Hickory, Southampton, Southern National and Coastal Plains)
- Won Southern National Speedway Track Championship
- Only Driver in Southampton Motor Speedway History to win four consecutive 200 lap races
- Won pole for Martinsville Speedway's "Taco Bell 300"
- Had sixth highest NASCAR CPI rating in Nation
2002
Finished Season with 10 Wins, 15 Poles and 5 Top 10's at Southampton Motor Speedway and Southern Nation Speedway
- Opened season with a Pole on his first effort at Southampton
- Won Poles at Myrtle Beach and Southampton Fall races
- Finished Second in Myrtle Beach "Sleep Inn 250"
- Finished seventh at Matinsville "Taco Bell 300"
2001
Second Season in NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars
- Had a very successful run at Southampton Motor Speedway with five Top 5 finishes.
- Debuted a new car and drove to 2 consecutive Top 5 finishes at Southampton and Southside.
- Finished 12th at Martinsville, TACO BELL 300.
- Finished 9th at Myrtle Beach fall race.
- Lead most laps of the Southern National Speedway Invitational race.
- Preparing for the 2002 season.
2000
Rookie for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Car Division
- Won Rookie of the Year at Southside Speedway in Richmond, VA.
- Finished Top 5 in final point standings at Southside Speedway with 18 top 10 and 11 top 5 runs.
- Finished 15th at Martinsville , TACO BELL 300.
1999
Second Season in NASCAR Grand Stock Division
- Second in track point standings at Southside Speedway
- Out of 25 Races, earned 5 Feature Wins, 17 Top-Fives and 21 Top Tens
- Won award for Most Popular Driver in Division
1998
First Season in NASCAR Grand Stock Division
- Competed at Three Virginia Tracks
- Out of 25 Races, earned 3 Top Five's and 17 Top Tens
1997
First Season Driving a Stock Car, Age 16, Mini Stock
- 1997 NASCAR Mini Stock Rookie of the Year at Southside and Langley Speedways
- Youngest driver to win NASCAR Mini Stock track championship at Langley Speedway
Langley Speedway Track Champion, NASCAR Mini Stock
- Holds NASCAR Mini Stock track Record at 18.025
- Out of 24 Races, earned 7 Poles, 6 Feature Wins and 21 Top Five's
Southside Speedway Track Champion, NASCAR Limited Dash
- Out of 10 Races, earned 4 Poles, 5 Feature Wins and 10 Top Five's
1996
Five stock car races in preparation for Rookie Season, NASCAR Limited Dash
- Earned 1 Pole and 5 Top Five's
Finished Kart Racing career with 127 Feature Wins and 5 Championships in Limited Participation in 3 classes
- Amelia Motor Raceway
- 2nd in points (Stock Light); 3rd in points (Limited Modified Light)
- Virginia Dirt Karting Association
- 2nd in points (Limited Modified Light); 4th in points (Yamaha 2 Cycle)
- World Karting Association Virginia Dirt Series
- 3rd in points (Yamaha 2 Cycle)
1995
Competed in 3 classes
- Junior Champ
- Virginia Dirt Karting Association, State Champion - World Karting Association Virginia Dirt Series, State Champion
- Junior Stock
- Virginia Dirt Karting Association, 3rd in points - World Karting Association Briggs and Stratton/Burris Dirt Nationals, 4th in nation
- Junior Restricted
- Virginia Dirt Karting Association, 4th in points
1994
Junior Restricted
- Amelia Motor Raceway, Track Champion
Junior Stock
- Amelia Motor Raceway, Track Champion
1993
Junior Restricted
- Amelia Motor Raceway, 5th in points
1992
Junior Sportsman
- Southside Speedway, Track Champion
1988-1991
Junior Sportsman
- Won FIRST race run at age 7