Denny Hamlin Biography

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Biography
Dennis "Denny" Hamlin, Jr. 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 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NTCS) races while competing full time in Late Models for Dean Motorsports. Hamlin made his NASCAR Busch Series debut at Darlington Speedway, 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 Hamlin's first restrictor plate race as a NEXTEL Cup driver, he scored the huge upset by beating all 2005 pole winners in the 70-lap 2006 Budweiser Shootout. Hamlin became the first ever Rookie of the Year candidate to take home the Shootout victory.

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Denny Hamlin Driver Timeline

2004

Hamlin driving in car #99, Competing in NCTS in #03 EJP Racing Chevrolet Truck

• By July had 10 wins in LMSC Competition
• 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 O'Reilly Raceway Park, August 6, 2004
• Qualified 7th and finished 10th at ORP
• 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, Bi-Lo 200.
• Started 27th (Quals Rained Out), Finished 8th in #18 Joe Gibbs Performance Racing Oil Chevrolet Monte Carlo

2003

Hamlin drove 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

Hamlin Finished Season with 10 Wins, 15 Poles and 5 Top 10's at Southampton Motor Speedway and Southern National Speedway

• Opened season with a Pole on his first effort at Southampton
• Won Poles at Myrtle Beach and Southampton Fall races

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 Speedway.
• Lead most laps of the Southern National Speedway Invitational race.

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.

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

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

Source: Wikipedia (GNU)

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Sprint Cup Career Statistics