Since the checkered flag waved at Homestead-Miami and Brad Keselowski was crowned 2012 Champion, fans have been anxiously awaiting the start of the 2013 season. The cold winter months have left NASCAR die-hards chomping at the bit for the sun and fun of Daytona and the beginning of the new season.
A lot happened in the off-season, especially for new Dad, Denny Hamlin. There is a new focus to his life as of late and for good reason. His beautiful daughter, Taylor James, was born on January 20th. Her full head of dark hair, full lips and precious smile have melted Daddy's heart and caused him to fall head-over-heels in love with his tiny angel. But this latest, tiny edition to the Hamlin family hasn't dampened the fire in the #11 Toyota's belly to win races and get that Championship. He is still a racer at heart, who just so happens to have added the title of Dad to his impressive resume.
The first race at Daytona was the Sprint Unlimited. The new format for the season-opener that awards 2012 pole sitters and previous Unlimited winners with a non-points event, was unique and Hamlin started 5th. Things didn't go as planned for the #11 FedEx Toyota, as Hamlin was involved in a crash and finished 15th. Not exactly the way the team wanted to start the season, but lesson learned.
Or was it? Denny went out to qualify for the Great American Race 24th and logged the 7th fastest time, behind pole-sitter Danica Patrick. His time gave him a 4th place starting spot for the first Budweiser Duel. And the inevitable happened when yet again he was caught up in someone else's mess and finished 20th in his Duel. Not exactly where the Virginia native wanted to finish. It put the FedEx Toyota 33rd in the lineup for the Daytona 500. This race fan was hopeful that the old adage "it doesn't matter where you start, it only matters where you finish" would hold true.
There was plenty of sheet metal getting tangled up during the Daytona 500 but luckily Denny avoided the catastrophes. His teammates Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch, as well as fellow Toyota driver, Martin Truex Jr, suffered engine failures, leaving doubts in the minds of the Joe Gibbs Racing crewmembers about the powerhouse under the hood of Hamlin's ride.
It was an impressive race for Denny, leading 33 laps and finishing 14th with all the fenders on his machine. He lead the second-most laps and is 13th after the first race is complete. Given the difficulties of his fellow Toyota teammates and a field that was unable to make a move seemingly throughout the entire race, it's a pretty good start to the season.
The Joe Gibbs Racing #11 team heads to Phoenix for race #2 of the season with plenty to be proud of. Any time you finish at Daytona on the lead lap without cosmetic damage it's a good day.
Wheels up....Phoenix, AZ here we come!
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