Driver Stats: Denny Hamlin

Yes, Kyle Busch won in Bristol. Convincingly, dominating the race. It isn't the first time this season, and it won't be the last. But his teammate was right behind him, so that's why Denny Hamlin is this week's driver profile. Last year, Tony Stewart was the leader of the Joe Gibbs Racing garage, and Denny and Kyle were just two young up-and-comers. Now with Tony gone and 18-year old Joey Logano in his spot, 28-year-old Denny Hamlin finds himself in the disconcerting position of being the senior member of the team with just three full-time years in the series. Kyle's only been with the team one year, and at 23 he still has a lot of maturing to do. So Denny has buckled down and worked at being a good team player, and his team owner Coach Gibbs has noticed and commented on it. Let's hope it helps him win some this year. 

Denny Hamlin drives the #11 FedEx Toyota for JGR. He started in Cup in 2005, and won the Rookie of the Year title in 2006, his first full year in the series. He has 4 wins, 6 poles, 33 top 5's, 61 top 10's, and has finished the season in the top 10 twice. He did make the Chase all three years, but his best finish was third in his rookie season, so he's still reaching for the type of success expected of him. He has won at least one race each season. He experienced success in Late Model racing, coming out of the local NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. And he has that All-American, boy-next-door look about him. He's a talented racer who should have won a few more races last year but had some bad luck, so maybe some of Kyle's good fortune will rub off and we'll see Denny doing the victory laps a few more times this year. It's hard not to root for a driver who is actually buying and giving away tickets to the races on his website because he's concerned about the economy's effect on the fans. He makes me think about the American flag, but all Denny really wants now is that checkered one.