Denny Hamlin News
Friday, February 5, 2010
Physical therapy on hold for Denny Hamlin: Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin said he still hasn’t been able to start physical therapy because he cannot bend his left knee enough to go cycling or swimming. Hamlin tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee playing basketball on Jan. 22. He won’t have surgery until after the 2010 NASCAR season. He said he has 80 percent of the strength in his leg. “Rehab will help a ton,” Hamlin said Thursday during NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. “Swimming and cycling are the two best. I can’t yet because I’m not as mobile as what I’d like. I can get 90 degrees and I can get my leg almost horizontal. That range of motion should be twice that. “Until I get my range of motion back, that’s when I’ll start that [rehab].” (Scene Daily)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Gibbs doesn't expect Hamlin to be bothered by injury: Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin shouldn’t have too much trouble driving a race car despite a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, according to JGR President J.D. Gibbs and doctors familiar with ACL injuries. Hamlin, 29, uses his left foot to brake as well as to control the clutch in his Mo. 11 Toyota. “In essence, it’s not that big a deal given what drivers normally have to do in the car,” said ESPN analyst Dr. Jerry Punch, a former emergency-room physician. “No two people are the same in terms of how much instability they have when they tear an ACL. Typically, somebody that is Denny’s age, young and in great physical shape, can rehab that knee without having it operated on.” The ACL keeps the lower part of the leg from moving forward when a person stops running. Starting and stopping quickly would make the knee feel unstable. It doesn’t have to do with rotation or side-to-side movement, Punch said, and the pedals could be adjusted to make it more comfortable. Reconstructive ACL surgery requires six to 10 weeks of immobility, and that’s why Hamlin plans to wait until after the season is over, Punch said. He could have arthroscopic surgery to clean out the injured area and that would require only 10 days of being off his feet, but Gibbs said that no surgery is planned.(Scene Daily)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hamlin suffers torn ACL: Denny Hamlin, widely considered Jimmie Johnson's top threat in 2010, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Friday playing pickup basketball. Hamlin said he still expects to compete, but surgery isn't an option at this time since the Sprint Cup season begins in two weeks. He plans to have surgery to repair the knee after the 2010 season. A team spokesman said the injury should not affect Hamlin's ability to drive the car. "I planted my foot to make a move toward the basket, and my knee just shot directly out to the left," Hamlin said. On Dec. 16, Hamlin had surgery on his right knee to repair the meniscus.(ESPN.com)
Friday, December 4, 2009
Hamlin pushes back knee surgery.. to play basketball: Denny Hamlin had minor knee surgery planned for the end of this season, but delayed the procedure after booking a suite with a basketball court inside of it for his stay in Las Vegas. Since arriving Tuesday evening, Hamlin said he and his friends have gotten in at least three games a day on the court. His surgery will be Dec. 16. "I moved my surgery back because I had this reserved for the last two months," he said. "It was scheduled for last week, and I thought there would be no point in it. I moved my surgery back to accommodate my hotel room in Vegas, so I'm trying to get all the ball in that I can since I'm going to be out for a month."(Associated Press)
Friday, November 27, 2009
No. 11 Crew wins Pit Road Precision Award at HMS: In Sunday's (Nov. 22) season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Denny Hamlin's No. 11 crew won the Tissot competition. The effort by the No. 11 FedEx crew played a key role in Hamlin's fourth race victory of the season. Hamlin's No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing crew consists of: Jonathan Sherman (front-tire changer), Brandon Pegram (front-tire carrier), Mike Hicks (rear-tire changer), Heath Cherry (rear-tire carrier), Nate Bolling (jackman), Scott Wood (gasman), John Eicher (catch can) and Bobby "Spike" Christenson (windshield). The team's crew chief is Mike Ford and the pit crew coach is Paul Alepa. The athletic director for Joe Gibbs Racing is Michael Lepp. The Tissot Pit Road Precision Award went to the team which spent the least amount of time on pit road and finished on the lead lap in each of the 36 Sprint Cup point races. The winning team earned $5,000 and a Tissot watch for each race.(Tissot)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Hamlin to have knee surgery: Denny Hamlin will have arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday to repair some minor damage to his right knee, he said Friday. Hamlin was originally scheduled to have the surgery during an off week this summer but elected to postpone it until after the season. "There's tears in there," he said. "[The surgery is to] basically scope it out. I just have problems with it when I get out of the car, it really is stiff and the joints really hurt, so it's something that needs to be done for the long run."(SceneDaily)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Hamlin worried his voice isn't being heard: Denny Hamlin contends his voice is not being heard by NASCAR. Hamlin was among those not pleased that officials enforced stricter guidelines on aggressive driving at Talladega. When told that NASCAR's recent follow-up meetings to its town hall sessions included a couple of veteran drivers among the smaller groups, Hamlin said he'd like to be included in future sessions. He also wondered if his voice would matter. "I don't know why they don't (include) all drivers, to be honest with you," Hamlin said. "Why they didn't ask my opinion, I don't know. Over the last few years I've earned my place in this sport, and I deserve my voice to be heard just as much as anyone. For them to just pick the guys that have been in the sport over 10 years, maybe pick the guys that are going to be here the next 15." (The Virginian-Pilot)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Hamlin: We're definitely done: "We're definitely done as far as the championship is concerned," said Denny Hamlin. "We're going to keep fighting to stay in the top 10. "We were looking for maybe a championship two weeks ago, and that's what's bad about this point system. It's 10 weeks only, and the first (26) just don't even matter anymore." (Gaston Gazette)
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
FedEx Racing takes part in American Red Cross event in Philadelphia: FedEx Racing, sponsor of Denny Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota, will join the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania this week, welcoming Philadelphia-area students on Thursday for the Race to Prepare, an event that stresses disaster preparedness through the building of a disaster kit and preparedness education. As part of the company's commitment to supporting disaster preparedness and relief efforts around the world, and in celebration of the long-term relationship with the organization, FedEx will be making a donation to the local American Red Cross chapter.(FedEx Racing PR)
Monday, Sept. 21, 2009
Hamlin runs over Mears' crew member: Clint Pittman, rear tire changer on the No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevy of Casey Mears, was clipped by Denny Hamlin during pit stops on Lap 69. Pittman injured his foot and was replaced by Shane Church, who practices with the backup crew at Richard Childress Racing. Mears restarted 27th following the accident and remained outside the top 25 until a call to stay out on Lap 193 by crew chief Todd Berrier. Mears restarted sixth and finished 13th, his third top 15 finish in the last six races. Pittman will see an orthopedic doctor on Monday. Doctors at the track infield care center suspected a small fracture to the top of his foot, according to RCR pit crew coordinator Matt Clark.(FOXSports.com)
Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009
Hamlin reacts to Reutimann's comments: David Reutimann said Wednesday he was not ready to forgive Denny Hamlin for the accident at Pocono Raceway that essentially ended his championship hopes. That, apparently was news to Hamlin. "I was surprised," Hamlin said Friday at Watkins Glen International. "We actually talked that night and he seemed fine. He didn't say that he was angry or anything. I've been in that situation before where you're battling for a Chase spot. It's not always about one race. There's a lot of races that lead up to it. I'm apologetic about it for sure. It's something that I didn't mean to do, but you can't put the blame all on me if he doesn't make the Chase."(ESPN.com/AP)
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009
Reutimann still upset with Hamlin after wreck: David Reutimann doesn't buy the explanation Denny Hamlin gave for the wreck in Monday's Sprint Cup race at Pocono that may also have wrecked his chances of making the Chase. Reutimann said he never brake-checked Hamlin, as the eventual race winner claimed occurred prior to the accident on Lap 174 that not only took out Reutimann but also Michael Waltrip Racing teammate Marcos Ambrose. He said Hamlin basically ran over him in an effort to get position. "I was just trying to get away from him," Reutimann said on Wednesday. "In the end, if you push a guy sideways enough he's not going to be able to bring it back. I didn't hear [his] explanation, but I can tell you it's pretty inaccurate. I was in the throttle all the time to the point I was hung out so far I kind of had to do something." Reutimann went on to say he was as "mad as heck" at Hamlin, even though the two have exchanged text messages in which Hamlin apologized. "If a guy says he's sorry I tend to believe it," Reutimann said.(ESPN.com)
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009
No. 11 Crew chief Mike Ford named Wypall Crew Chief of the Race: Mike Ford, crew chief for the No. 11 FedEx Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race after Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. After waiting through the rain delay on Sunday and fighting emotions all weekend, Hamlin and his No. 11 team started the race on Monday with great optimism. Despite fighting an ill-handling race car throughout practice on Saturday, Hamlin and Ford knew they had made the right changes for a good shot at the win. A strong car kept Hamlin at the front of the field for most of the day, and after the last round of pit stops under caution with 20 to go, he found himself just outside the top five on the last restart. At that point, Hamlin knew he had the car to win and with encouragement from his crew chief over the radio, found the speed to take the lead with just nine laps to go. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season's end.(Wypall)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
No. 11 FedEx crew wins Tissot Pit Road Precision Award: Denny Hamlin’s crew took top honors in the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award during Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway. Hamlin’s No. 11 crew became the 13th Tissot winner in the 19 Cup races contested in 2009. The pit crew win was the result of Hamlin’s FedEx Toyota Camry spending the least amount of time on pit road – 194.055 seconds. The quick work helped Hamlin and the Joe Gibbs Racing team to a fifth-place finish in the 267-lap, 400-mile race. Hamlin’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Jonathan Sherman (front-tire changer), Brandon Pegram (front-tire carrier), Mike Hicks (rear-tire changer), Heath Cherry (rear-tire carrier), Nate Bolling (jackman), Scott Wood (gasman), John Eicher (catch can) and Bobby “Spike” Christenson (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Mike Ford and the pit crew coach is Paul Alepa. The athletic director for Joe Gibbs Racing is Michael Lepp. The no. 11 team will collect $5,000 for the pit road win. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule will receive a $100,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the crew and driver. The crews for Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle lead in the Tissot standings with three wins each. Tony Stewart’s and Jimmie Johnson’s crews are tied for third with two wins each.(Tissot)
Friday, May 29, 2009
Hamlin visits DC-area Salvation Army: Denny Hamlin and team owner Joe Gibbs visited Washington D.C. on Thursday to deliver a custom designed Disaster Response Unit to the D.C-area Salvation Army. The vehicle, used in disaster situations to provide food and water to as many as 2,500 people per day, is one of 12 that FedEx has donated to cities both inside the U.S. and around the world. FedEx, a long time partner of the Salvation Army, is uniquely qualified to aide in disaster situations delivering goods and services to affected areas.(FedEx Racing)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Hamlin doesn't feel the extra 100 miles: The drivers of today are almost all fitness freaks. They work out. They have strength trainers. Few are prone to admit that the Coca-Cola 600 takes them to the limits of endurance. "To be honest, I don't feel the difference in length, the extra 100 miles, in the car over running 500 miles," said Denny Hamlin. "You are so focused, and especially at a place like Lowe's, where you're running high speeds and the laps go by quickly, you don't sense it. The only time it hits me during this race is when we reach the halfway point and it seems like we've already run a lot of laps." (Gaston Gazette)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Hamlin Crew Chief: Nothing but frustration at Richmond: Hamlin, who led a race-high 148 laps, entered pit road with the lead on lap 274. Car owner Joe Gibbs said two lug nuts fell off the right front tire, costing Hamlin time. Hamlin exited pit road eighth and got stuck in traffic the rest of the race. His team later changed two tires instead of four for track position, but the plan backfired and Hamlin fell to 14th at the finish. “You don’t take anything out of it,” Hamlin’s crew chief Mike Ford said of the finish, “other than frustration.” (Carroll County Times)
September 13, 2006
Hamlin first ROTY contender to make The Chase: Denny Hamlin finished 15th in the September 9 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway to clinch a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Hamlin is the first Raybestos Rookie to qualify for the Chase. He is fifth in the Nextel Cup Series championship standings, 20 points behind leader Matt Kenseth. Hamlin led the Richmond race once for 19 laps, the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the event. (PR)
August 3, 2006
Hamlin Sweeps at Pocono: Denny Hamlin was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the July 23 Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Hamlin scored his second win of the 2006 season in the race, crossing the finish line 1.510 seconds ahead of second-place Kurt Busch. He grabbed top rookie honors for the 11th time in 20 races. (PR)
June 11, 2006:
Hamlin wins first career points race: No one can say Denny Hamlin didn't earn his first Nextel Cup Series victory. His victory in Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway was accomplished as much by how he performed on the track as off of it. Hamlin, the pole-winner, led 49 of the first 50 laps and his No. 11 Chevrolet by far the fastest on the track when he cut a right-rear tire on Lap 52, which sent him spinning into the infield grass. He managed to stay off the wall, rolled over some dips in the grass before finally straightening out on the pit road access road. After extensive repairs, Hamlin still remained on the lead lap and worked his way back to the front, the final time taking the lead with 23 of 200 laps remaining. He then held off Kurt Busch by 1.328 seconds for the win. (Charlotte Observer - Results - Points)
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Born: 11/18/1980