Denny Hamlin
Fast Facts
Birthday: Nov. 18, 1980
Hometown: Chesterfield, VA
Residence: Huntersville, NC
Stats
Cup Wins: 22
Nationwide Wins: 11
Cup Top 5′s: 82
Cup Poles: 13
Denny’s Toyota Camry Race Cars
How Denny’s Fans Describe Him
Bio
The 2012 season marks Denny Hamlin’s seventh full year behind the wheel of the #11 FedEx Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Hamlin enters the campaign with a new crew chief – just the second of his Cup career – as Darian Grubb joins the FedEx Racing team after helping guide Tony Stewart to the 2011 championship.
Hamlin looks to start fresh in the 2012 season after recording one victory, five top-five finishes and 14 top-10 results in 2011. The 31-year-old Chesterfield, Va., native qualified for his sixth-consecutive Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, one of only two drivers (Jimmie Johnson) to make the Chase every year since 2006. Hamlin finished ninth in the final point standings one year ago.
The #11 team’s lone win came at Michigan International Speedway in June, when a two-tire stop put Hamlin in front of the pack for a late-race restart, and he was able to hold off Matt Kenseth en route to victory lane. It marked the 17th-career Cup Series victory for Hamlin and moved the storied #11 within one victory of matching the #43 with 198 for the most wins all time in NASCAR’s premier division.
Comments
Just wanted to say, After the 2008 season talk about Bred Keslowski. Seems to me he is the champ and you are the one that cant drive LOL. Admit it he is a better driver.
I don’t think nascar understands how much fans are vested in their favorite drivers and to watch nascar penalize our drivers with for no good reason is a turn off. If they wan’t to know why fans are leaving the sport that is why. The fans are offended and repulsed by nascars power. Keep the fines for cheating and let our drivers race!
Thank you for standing your ground on the fine! NASCAR needs to learn that fining drivers for being honest will cost them money from fans that boycott! My husband says he’s boycotting until they remove the fine and we spend thousands a year attending races at Talladega, Atlanta and Daytona.
Denny,
I have followed NASCAR since my father hauled some parts for Junior Johnson back in the early sixties…although I went to North Wilkesboro in the fifties when it was dirt…and although I used to think that NASCAR was a subsidary of GM back when I rooted for Elliott, you took his place as a ‘from the roots’ driver…this fine is BS…you said nothing wrong…and to not talk to you first was disrespectful…you drive for an honorable man, Gibbs, and I can only hope that he is giving you his full support! When I was living in Old Town Alexandria, VA he fully supported Riggins when he would say some things that Joe would catch a bit of flak over; he, I am sure is doing the same for you!! Let them take from your earnings, if you must, just don’t get suspended!!!…you are needed on the track…maybe NASCAR will even allow you to get into proper starting position this week…Stand tall…
Denny is a bigger cry baby than Darrel Waltrip use to be back in the day.He always blames someone else for his screw up’s.He is always to quick to judge like when he spun out at Datona and said on the radio that Trevor Baine hit him from behind Trevor never touched him.And a few years back when he called Clint Boyer and Richard Childress cheaters because the car was the thickness of a quater laying flat to short ot to tall in the raer end .Anyone could have made that mistake.He needs to go back to Nationwide like Elliot Sadler till he can be a man about thing’s and learn to keep his big mouth shut.What a big cry baby
Denny,
I’ve been a race fan since 1970. Grew up in Jacksonville, FL and went to Daytona every year for several decades. NASCAR should fine itself for “actions detrimental to stock car racing, under the NASCAR rule book section 12.1. Their decision to fine you has cost the sanctioning body much credibility with real race fans. That hurts the sport. I have never been a Denny Hamlin fan. Not a hater just indifferent. But I am sure a fan now. You have stood your ground based on principle. A real man can do nothing less. Kudos to you. However, keeping silent on the subject of the gen 6 car or the quality of racing, as I have heard you say you intend to do, is exactly what NASCAR wants. They have other puppet drivers who will blow smoke to the fans and say what NASCAR wants us to hear. Rather, you should comment with a very stoic look on your face and say in a very rehearsed mechanical fashion, “The gen 6 car is the best race car ever. The racing is the best it’s ever been.” If reporters ask you to explain yourself, just repeat it verbatim. NASCAR will get the message yet you’ve said nothing but good. LOL
I grew up in a day when a man had CHARACTER,INTEGRITY,& a BACKBONE.He stood up for what was right.Today I was sorely reminded of the world we live in today when Denny caved in to NASCAR.
I used to be a fan.
just wanted to say my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Denny,praying for you&your family!!!Praying you have a full recovery!!!your fan for life!!!
Denny, hope you recover quickly, and completely. Denny Hamlin rules!!!
praying for u and ur family. please send out info so we know how u r
Hope Denny is doing okay. Although I may not be a Hamlin fan, I hope NASCAR punishes Logano by parking him!!
Denny,
Just heard about the extent of your injury. Hang in there and good luck with your recovery. Looking forward to seeing you out on the track again.
Hey Denny,
Just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery. Hope your injury doesn’t keep you out of racing for too long. Prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Take Care, Razor
DH Frist off Ido no like toyotas and your not one my drivers ( LOVE THE BOWTIES). bUT YOUE REALLY GOT WRONG BY LOGANO. JL needs either to go to drivers school or let Tony or even Gordon take care of him. I have had back problems . I feel for you. GET WELL!
Jerry I don’t know what race you were watching by Joey did nothing wrong at all. He just raced hard. Denny and Tony were both out of line. You need to go back an review.
Denny, I hope you get better soon and back on the track!!! ck
Hope Denny hamlin has a Speedy recovery. hope he gets well soon.
Don’t listen to these idiots that call you names and say you caved to Nascar. They don’t seem to understand that Nascar is a dictatorship….not a democracy.
Say or do anything (on or off track) the France family or sponsors don’t like….you get fined or suspended. They are the only game in town and they know it.
You gave an honest answer to a reporter’s question. All my race fan friends agree that you really said nothing wrong. Why Nascar had issue with that? Who knows?
Retracting a statement or paying the fine doesn’t make you weak or soft. Almost every driver out there has had to do one or the other. You do what you have to do to continue to be a star in Nascar. Do it for your fans, sponsors, owner, team and crew.
But mainly do it for you. Because it’s obvious to anyone who watches you race that you are a huge talent and are passionate and dedicated to your craft. Nascar and its fans are fortunate to have you as a competitor.
If any of you haters read this and don’t agree with me…..just think about that finish at California. Denny you put on a show those last few laps. Driving through the field like you did…..man that was exciting.
Sure you haters are saying: “Look what happened. Logano got the best of him. Kyle won the race. Denny hit the wall and is out for the next 5 to 6 weeks. He got pay back…Karma right”. WRONG!!!!!
I saw a driver get in a position to win at the right time and came up short. He didn’t back down because he had to race a teammate or a former teammate that he has issues with. That’s a man’s man and a true racer.
It is a shame you got hurt Denny. Even the haters have to agree with that. You’re a tough guy and you don’t have to prove that to anyone. Don’t push too hard to get back in the seat to soon. We true fans will wait patiently to see you back on the track.
Get well soon and God bless
get wll soon denny
hail to thefed ex team
The speediest of recovery!
take it easy
To Denny Hamlin Get well soon buddy and I look forward to your return.Get well soon.(paybacks are hell)
Denny fans, other driver fans, are all behind Denny. At least most other driver fans. Your peers stand with you, even though they are not as outgoing as you to speak their mind. We wish you a SPEEDY recovery, so when you get back, hamlinwinschampionship! Not impossible for Denny, the awesome driver he is. The people who are calling him names are just jealous, and scared he will make history with his comeback and make the Chase and WIN, and mess with their favorite drivers chances to win. If it was not for some mechanical problems in the past, he would have won the Championship a couple of times already. Only a matter of time people! He will WIN! Get well soon. We love ya! You ROCK!
denny you have no idea what is in your head..not is only jj and kevin been in your head now joey in in there….you will never be a champ so keep your mouth shut and try to get even with the best…you know u can wreck them if you can’t beat them….now you know how joey felt be #3 at jgr ur the 3rd best there now
DENNY~IVE MET YOU AT THE JUNE MICHIGAN RACE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND TOLD YOU YOU ARE MY DADS FAVORITE DRIVER. YOU TALKED TO HIM THAT DAY ON MY PHONE AND MADE HIS FATHERS DAY A GREAT DAY. I TOLD YOU YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRIVERS. WE PRAY YOU WILL HEAL QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY SO YOU CAN GET BACK IN YOUR CAR TO RACE AND TO LIVE YOUR LIFE TO ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL. SEE YOU AT DARLINGTON IN MAY!
Hey I am a kyle fan trough and trough but my wife is a slamming hamlin fan. Would like to have some up date on your healing and when you might be in the fedex. Toyota
So glad you are back! I admire how you have matured as a driver and a human being over the last few years. Got to meet you at Chicagoland last Sept. It was an honor. You are a lucky man in respect to overcoming your injury and in having such a beautiful family with Jordon and little Taylor. Take care of yourself and your lovely ladies. Good wishes always !