Time for a change?

 Since the first time I heard the name Denny Hamlin, I knew there was something special about this guy.  I've had the utmost respect for Joe Gibbs since the day he came into NASCAR.  He produces champions, he's of NFL greatness, so of course he knows how to mold young men into the finest gold ever produced.  Bobby Labonte exudes class and character and he will forever be the face of JGR to me.  Then there's Tony Stewart.  The firecracker who brought spark and charisma to the world of Motorsports.  My personal feelings for Smoke aside, you can't deny his greatness after winning two championships and going out on his own to start a team that will sustain him after retirement, basing his organization on the model of none other than his boss and mentor, Joe Gibbs.

In my opinion, Joe Gibbs and his son JD know how to pick the best of the best and Denny Hamlin is no exception.  His first win came after adversity that would've sidelined lesser competitors. But this rookie proved he had what it takes to be a champion.  So this season's struggles don't concern me in the least, and I don't feel like any changes are necessary for his crew chief or his pitcrew.

Denny says Mike Ford's his guy and if Ford goes, he goes.  He's stood up for his shot caller numerous times and the loyalty runs deep.  Rumors of a crew chief swap have run rampant and Hamlin insists there will be no changes if the boss plans to keep him onboard.  This is yet another quality that endears me to the FedEx driver.  Last weekend's race at Pocono looked promising for the much needed, highly coveted win the entire # 11 team so desperately wants to get under their belt for the 2011 season and yet again the unthinkable happened.  Only this time, the laps wound down quicker than Denny could rebound and he wound up 19th and dropped to 12th in point standings. 

Denny Hamlin has said all along that 2011 is his season. He is determined to be the man to dethrone Five Time and as a staunch hater of Jimmie Johnson and all of Hendrick Motorsports, I'm all for that plan.  So what's happened? Why does it seem all the wheels are falling off at once and the entire season may explode in Denny's face?  I have but one explanation.  Distractions and high self expectations have taken my heroes focus off of the task of claiming his first in many trophies and making his mark on the sport of auto racing.  Girls, friends and outside interests have become drama with a life of its own that the driver can't quite seem to squash.  The people closest to him try to protect him from the bullshit of life but there will always be people who don't respect him and have his best interest at heart.  Shy of cleaning house and wiping out all the negativity the only hope is to shut out everything and everyone that doesn't lift him up and make him better.

I've said all along that Denny can be his own worst enemy, and unfortunately that is evident this year.  He starts to doubt his own talents and takes his eye off the prize and he has the same result as Peter who took his eyes off of Jesus while he was walking on water to him.  You can't always explain why things are going so well, but the last thing you need to is to start second guessing, questioning and doubting.  Denny knows he's capable of it, he knows his crew chief is the one to get him there and he knows he's a rockstar. Now he just needs to start walking, talking, eating, sleeping...yeah some more of that may help too.... and breathing like a Champion.  Your fans believe in you, I believe in you and now my amazing man, you need to start believing in you. Get back to basics, put the blinders on and focus on filling up your house with race trophies and making room for that coveted Championship trophy. The world is waiting on you to take it by storm...so what are you waiting for?

Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin ends string of setbacks with third-place Michigan run

Coming off two weeks of frustration, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin finally got the finish he felt he deserved in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup LifeLock 400.

Hamlin, who had seen strong runs the last two races derailed by a cut tire at Dover and a fuel-pump issue at Pocono last weekend, suffered no setbacks Sunday as he finished third at Michigan International Speedway.

“We got a new race car here,” Hamlin said after netting his third top-five and fifth top-10 of the season. “We were strong all day. We had a top-five car all day. So, it's good to finally finish where we belong. I'm proud of this whole team. We were definitely a car that could contend for a top-two or top-three spot all day.”

Hamlin trailed only Roush Fenway Racing’s Greg Biffle off pit road following the day’s final pit stops with 46 laps to go. But after failing to close in on Biffle and getting passed by eventual race winner Mark Martin and the race’s dominant driver, Jimmie Johnson, it appeared Hamlin might have to settle for a fifth-place finish.

Biffle and Johnson both ran out gas in the last two laps, however, and that allowed Hamlin to move up to third in the final running order.

While certainly satisfied with his finish, Hamlin didn’t enjoy having to be mindful of an uncertain fuel-mileage situation with almost all the frontrunners in the closing laps.

“I kicked myself for not running harder because I was rolling the [throttle] pretty big at the end," he said. "But, I think it was just a bait thing. I think [Biffle] baited [Johnson] to come get him, and they ended up both running out of fuel. We were all in the same boat there; it's just who wanted to risk winning the race versus finishing. I think that's what happened."

With his solid performance, Hamlin not only broke out of his recent mini-slump but also moved above the cutoff spot to make NASCAR’s Chase For The Sprint Cup.

After entering the day 12th in points, Hamlin is now 10th and has a little more breathing room with 11 races before the field is set.

"I hate running like that, but that's what you have to do to get to the end,” Hamlin said of the fuel-economy run. “I'm just proud of our whole team. We worked on fuel mileage a little bit during testing at other race tracks and it paid off here at Michigan.

“For the most part, it was a solid day. We had a top-four or top-five car all day, and it paid off at the end."

Press Releases Following Lifelock 400 ~ Michigan

Better luck for Hamlin

Denny Hamlin's third-place finish was his first in the top10 since April.
"We definitely need to get back on track," Hamlin said. "We need to start building. We've got to get back to solid finishes and make sure we solidify our place in the Chase and we don't have to race our way in going into Richmond."

Hamlin climbed two spots to 10th in the points with his performance.

DENNY HAMLIN
No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry ~ Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd

How was your run today? "I hate running like that, but that's what you have to do to get to the end. I'm just proud of our whole FedEx Express team. We worked on fuel mileage a little bit during testing at other race tracks and it paid off here at Michigan. For the most part, it was a solid day. We had a top-four or top-five car all day, and it paid off at the end."

How did you feel about it ending up a fuel-mileage race? "I don't know. I think we were pretty good. I kicked myself for not running harder because I was rolling the 'five-in' (throttle) pretty big at the end. But, I think it was just a bait thing. I think the 16 (Greg Biffle) baited the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) to come get him, and they ended up both running out of fuel. We were all in the same boat there, it's just who wanted to risk winning the race versus finishing. I think that's what happened."

What were you thinking at the end of the race? "I was just thinking how much I though I saved during the course of the run. I definitely feel like I probably could've pushed harder. I'm really curious to see how much we have left in the tank to see next time in that situation I could have ran a little bit harder."

Is it a good feeling to rebound strong after last week? "It is. We got a new race car here. We were strong all day. We had a top-five car all day. So, it's good to finally finish where we belong. I'm proud of this whole FedEx Express team. We were definitely a car that could contend for a top-two or top-three spot all day. It feels good to finally come out of here with a finish we deserve."

What did you think about the race finish? "It's tough as a driver to go out there and not run as hard as what you want to. When these races just seem to come down to fuel mileage a lot. We worked on it a little bit with our race team and I think I worked on it as a driver and got better. But, I was willing to 'five-in' (throttle) there at the end. I felt like I was running a little bit too hard. So, I let the 24 (Jeff Gordon) go and it turns out the front two (Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson) baited each other into running out of gas."

Michigan: 3rd finisher press conference
Racing series -- NASCAR-CUP
Date -- 2009-06-14
LifeLock 400 Post-Race Transcript

An interview with: DENNY HAMLIN - 3rd finisher

KERRY THARP: We'll roll right into our post race press conference at Michigan International Speedway. Our third place finisher in today's race is Denny Hamlin. He drives the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny is now 10th in championship points standings.

Denny, talk about how you ran out there today and how things unfolded there towards the end.

DENNY HAMLIN: Well, we had a good car all day. We fought a little track position for the most part. But we were a top five car all day. We felt like a third to fourth place car for the most part. We knew the last run, I think we were about two laps shy. I worked on some things, some road course testing, what not, to try to save fuel. I felt pretty confident that we could save those two laps.

I felt like as a driver I was really conservative. I'd be interested to see what we have left in the tank because I know I was really rolling down that 5 there about 10 to go. I just thought, man, it's kind of not worth it. If the 48 and the 16 don't run out, what's the point of trying to catch this 5? Little do you know it's for the race win.

But I think it's just the 16 and 48 kind of baited each other into running hard, and that's what happened.

KERRY THARP: Questions for Denny Hamlin.

Q: Denny, is it kind of disappointing to go back to back fuel mileage races as a driver? Is that tough when you get out there and they come on and say you have to start saving?

DENNY HAMLIN: Yeah, it is. But, I mean, it does put the driver in it, for sure. I mean, when we're all short, and I'm pretty sure that everyone was short, without having to save gas on the racetrack, it puts it in the drivers' hands in the sense of how hard do you want to push it versus how much do you want to save.

You know, it is still a driver's race, even though it is a fuel mileage race.

Q: Can you talk about this finish as far as your season. It's been not remarkable. This is a big boost for you guys.

DENNY HAMLIN: It is. You know, we definitely had a hard couple of weeks, for sure. But we definitely need to get back on track. We need to start building. If we're not 13th, I don't know with Mark winning, but we got to get back to solid finishes and make sure we solidify our place in the Chase and we don't have to race our way in going into Richmond.

You know, we had to finish pretty well at Richmond last year to make sure we got in the Chase. And that's just a gut wrenching feeling you don't want to have to go through.

We feel like our performance is pretty good. We feel like we're a little bit behind the Hendrick cars. Obviously, I mean, if Kyle is not up front, then our stuff is not the best. And it's definitely not the best right now. We're a little bit behind. But, you know, we feel like in due time we got some things that we're working on to try to be better than those guys. Right now it's just catch up mode.

KERRY THARP: Denny, thank you very much.
-credit: nascar

Season In Review

So..it's been WAY too long since I've posted anything about Denny and I thought it was about time I get to work. So I decided to do a little season in review. What a season it has been so far. Seems to have flown by. I swear just yesterday we were in Daytona and now we're headed to Michigan. Time sure flies when you're having fun. Granted, DNF's and blown tires are no fun, but racing 200 mph mere inches from a concrete wall with your best friends and a few guys you hate with a passion sure beats the hell outta anything else you could think to do.

Denny hasn't been smashing guitars at Nashville or winning his first race as a team owner, but he is holding his own and impressing his number one fan. So here goes... Denny Hamlin's 2009 NASCAR Season in Review...as of Pocono.

• Budweiser Shootout -- Daytona ~ Started 5th Finished 13th
• Gatorade Duel Race 2 -- Daytona ~ Started 13th Finished 5th
• Daytona 500 -- Daytona ~ Started 10th Finished 26th
• Auto Club 500 -- Fontana ~ Started 23rd Finished 6th
• Shelby 427 -- Las Vegas ~ Started 34th Finished 22nd - 1 lap
• Kobalt Tools 500 -- Atlanta ~ Stared 6th Finished 13th
• Food City 500 -- Bristol ~ Stared 24th Finished 2nd
• Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 -- Martinsville ~ Started 8th Finished 2nd
• Samsung 500 -- Texas ~ Started 22nd Finished 12th
• Subway Fresh Fit 500 -- Phoenix ~ Started 12th Finished 6th
• Aaron's 499 -- Talladega ~ Started 18th Finished 22nd
• Russ Friedman 400 -- Richmond ~ Started 3rd Finished 14th
• Southern 500 -- Darlington ~ Started 23rd Finished 13th
• All Star Race -- Lowe's ~ Started 18th Finished 4th
• Coca Cola 600 -- Lowe's ~ Started 18th Finished 11th
• Autism Speaks 400 -- Dover ~ Started 16th Finished 36th Accident
• Pocono 500 -- Pocono ~ Started 7th Finished 38th -22 laps

Fed Ex Racing Express Facts - Martinsville

RACE INFO:
Event: Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500
Date/Time: March 29, 2009/2 p.m.
2008 winner: Denny Hamlin
2008 pole winner: Jeff Gordon
Distance: 500 laps/263miles
Track Length: .526 miles
Banking: 12 degrees
Track Shape: Oval

EXPRESS NOTES:
Hamlin, FedEx Racing Team Storm to Second at Bristol: Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team turned in a great performance last weekend at Bristol, charging forward from a starting position of 24th to battle for the lead and ultimately claim second place on the day.

Hamlin took the lead on lap 317 and held the point for seven laps before surrendering the lead under caution. Despite restarting second for the green-white-checkered finish, he couldn’t reach the bumper of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate and eventual winner, Kyle Busch. The result continued Hamlin’s string of good runs at Bristol as well as giving the #11 team their best result of the still-young 2009 season. Hamlin climbs from 14th to eighth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings through six races.

Hamlin at Martinsville:
This weekend will mark Hamlin’s eighth career Sprint Cup start at Martinsville Speedway.

Hamlin returns to Martinsville as the defending champion of the spring race at the famous paperclip. In March of 2008 Hamlin led 82 laps and held off a furious charge from Jeff Gordon to claim his sole win of the season and the fourth win of his Cup career. In the fall of 2008, Hamlin and the #11 team fought handling issues but managed an impressive fifth-place finish. In 2007, Hamlin sat on the pole for the spring race and led 125 laps before taking third place and then posted a sixth place finish in the 2007 Chase race. Hamlin has only finished out of the top-10 once at Martinsville – a 41st place finish in the spring event in 2006 – which supports the fact that Hamlin’s short track performance has been a point of consistency in his Sprint Cup career.

That is especially true at Martinsville, a place where Hamlin has raced Late Models as recently as 2003.

Charlotte FedEx Freight Service Center “Along for the Ride” in Martinsville :The #11 FedEx Freight Camry will feature “CLT” on the wing caps this weekend at Martinsville Speedway to recognize the Charlotte Service Center as the winners of the 2008 Diversity Week Grand Prize. The prize rewards participation, creativity and cooperation among employees.

MARTINSVILLE CHASSIS – JGR 238 & 214: JGR 238 will carry the FedEx Freight paint this weekend at Martinsville. This is the first ever race for this chassis. JGR 214 will serve as the backup this weekend. This car has made four previous Cup starts, posting top-ten finishes in 2008 (New Hampshire and Martinsville)

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – MARTINSVILLE:
Talk about returning to Martinsville: “Martinsville is special for me for a lot of reasons. The experience of winning a Cup race here, at a Virginia track where I raced Late Models a few years ago, and in front of great racing fans and my family, was something I will never forget. And to have a Martinsville clock sitting in my home that I see everyday – it reminds me of that day and also how much went into getting to that point. I remember racing here in Late Models, in the big fall events, and thinking then what a big deal it was to be here at a famous track, getting to do what I loved which was race cars. So to go there in a Cup car, win a pole a few years back and then get a win there last Spring was something that was hard to imagine even just a few years. Don’t get me wrong, it was what I always wanted and was working for but you can’t expect things to work out like they did. This is a great track – one of my favorites - with a ton of history and a special style of racing. I think it’s where I am at my best and I know the entire #11 FedEx team circles the Martinsville races on the calendar.”

It’s been one year since you’ve won in the Cup series – does that frustrate or motivate you? – “I think it’s a little of both. We almost had a win last weekend at Bristol so we feel like we are edging closer to where we want to be but to go a year without a win isn’t where we want to be. It would be one thing if we weren’t close but there have been several times in the past year where I know we had the car capable of winning and for whatever reason it just didn’t happen. So, while that gives you confidence in yourself and in the equipment, those missed opportunities start to wear on you and on the entire team. Everyone on this FedEx team puts a lot of time and effort into winning races and nothing is better than when it all works out. I am hoping that this is the weekend where we get our next win and that we can put together a good string of races – challenge for wins throughout the season - and move closer to the goal of challenging for a championship.”

Hamlin, Fed Ex Racing Storm To Second At Bristol

Once again – and for the third time in three races at Bristol Motor Speedway - Denny Hamlin drove the #11 FedEx Toyota forward from a mid-pack start into a battle for the win before ultimately finishing a Bristol career-best of second in Sunday’s Food City 500.

The second-place finish keeps a string of great runs at Bristol alive. One year ago, Hamlin held the lead before fuel pickup problems left him in sixth place, and last fall Hamlin and the FedEx team put together a solid race to finish third.

“We had a long-run car today - we didn’t have that short run car when we needed it at the end,” explained Hamlin after the event. “There were about 300,000 FedEx employees that were hoping that we were going to get a win today, I'm just trying to get a win for them but we came up a little bit short.

Congratulations to Kyle (Busch). It’s great to get a one-two finish for Joe Gibbs Racing and just can’t thank this whole team enough. A good job on pit road today, very solid. We feel like we deserve to be in victory lane and hopefully we’ll get that done next week,”

Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch took the checkered flag after a long battle with Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson to make it a one-two JGR finish. The third JGR car, driven by Joey Logano, experienced engine problems late in the race and was scored in 38th place.

The second-place finish marks Hamlin’s best results of the still-young 2009 season and sees him jump from 14th to eighth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings through six races. The series now heads to Martinsville Speedway, a favorite track of Hamlin and the site of his most-recent Cup Sseries win.

From the drop of the green flag, Hamlin charged forward and quickly erased the memory of qualifying 24th from his mind. As he was putting most of the competition in his rear view mirror, the only problem the team encountered was a rising water temperature – a problem that was exacerbated when the yellow came out and the field was slowed.

By lap 55 Hamlin had cracked the top 20 and ran in 16th place but things were about to even get better for the #11FedEx Express team. On lap 64, with the team scored in 15th place, Crew Chief Mike Ford called Hamlin onto pit road and opted for a two tire change in effort to gain track position. The decision paid off for the FedEx team as Hamlin gained five sports and lined up to restart tenth.

Hamlin continued to carve his way through the field, claiming sixth place on lap 100, fifth on lap 110, and fourth place on lap 111 – all while turning the quickest laps of any car on the track.
When the caution flew on lap 123 Hamlin was running fourth and was very happy with the way his car felt. The crew made no chassis adjustments and a very quick stop by the FedEx team had Hamlin out to restart third behind leader Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson in second place.On lap 130 Hamlin claimed second from Johnson after a fierce, multi-lap duel with the three-time Sprint Cup Champion.

On lap 191, Hamlin made his fourth pit stop of the afternoon; this time Ford calling for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment to in hopes of chasing down Busch and Johnson – the main rivals all afternoon. A long green-flag run ensued with Hamlin chasing Johnson for the second spot. On lap 300 Hamlin took over the runner-up spot from Johnson and set his sights on Busch and on lap 317 Hamlin moved to the point, dicing through lapped traffic to take the lead from his JGR teammate.

Hamlin’s lead would be short-lived, however, as the yellow came out on lap 319 and he pitted from the lead on lap 321 for four tires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment. Jimmie Johnson beat Hamlin out of the pits to retake the lead with Hamlin lined up in second.

Hamlin continued to run second to Johnson until lap 359 when JGR teammate Kyle Busch assumed the second spot. With 100 laps remaining in the Food City 500 Hamlin was in third place, 1.8 seconds behind then-leader Jimmie Johnson.

The FedEx Express team rose to the occasion on the final pit stop of the afternoon as Hamlin pulled onto pit road on lap 444. Hamlin came in third and pulled out in second –right behind teammate Kyle Busch – and it was a position he would hold for the remainder of the race.

On lap 495 a small window of opportunity opened for Hamlin to make one last charge for the win when Joey Logano experienced engine problems and brought out the final yellow of the day to set up a green-white-checkered finish. However Busch was very strong on the restart and Hamlin was forced to hold off a charging Jimmie Johnson to take second.

Food City 500 - Bristol - Results

The Offical results of the Food City 500 - Bristol
~ Race 5 of 36 ~

1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 11 Denny Hamlin
3. 48 Jimmie Johnson
4. 24 Jeff Gordon
5. 9 Kasey Kahne
6. 5 Mark Martin
7. 39 Ryan Newman
8. 31 Jeff Burton
9. 42 Juan Montoya
10. 47 Marcos Ambrose
11. 2 Kurt Busch
12. 00 David Reutimann
13. 33 Clint Bowyer
14. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr
15. 99 Carl Edwards
16. 44 A J Allmendinger
17. 14 Tony Stewart - 1
18. 28 Travis Kvapil - 1
19. 12 David Stremme -1
20. 19 Elliott Sadler - 1
21. 7 Robby Gordon - 2
22. 96 Bobby Labonte - 2
23. 43 Reed Sorenson - 2
24. 07 Casey Mears - 2
25. 98 Paul Menard - 2
26. 1 Martin Truex Jr - 2
27. 6 David Ragan - 3
28. 82 Scott Speed - 3
29. 83 Brian Vickers - 4
30. 29 Kevin Harvick - 4
31. 77 Sam Hornish Jr - 4
32. 55 Michael Waltrip - 6
33. 17 Matt Kenseth - 6
34. 34 John Andretti - 8
35. 8 Aric Almirola - 9
36. 71 David Gilliland - 10
37. 26 Jamie McMurray - 12
38. 20 Joey Logano - Engine
39. 16 Greg Biffle - Engine
40. 09 Sterling Marlin - Engine
41. 87 Joe Nemechek - Rear End
42. 64 Todd Bodine - Accident
43. 66 Dave Blaney - Steering

Fed Ex Racing Express Facts - Bristol

RACE INFO:
Event: Food City 500
Date/Time: March 22, 2009 ~ 2 p.m.
2008 winner: Jeff Burton
2008 pole winner: Rain
Distance: 500 laps ~ 266.5 miles
Track Length: .533 miles
Banking: 36 degrees
Track Shape: Oval


EXPRESS NOTES:
Hamlin, FedEx Racing 13th at Atlanta: Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx team posted a 13th-place finish two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway – a result that keeps Hamlin in 14th-place in the Sprint Cup standings but also a result that left them wondering what could have been. Hamlin ran in the top-five for much of the day but with the laps winding down, he found himself with an extremely loose race car. He was scored in sixth place with 51 laps remaining but slid back in the field before the end and ultimately brought the #11 FedEx Camry home in 13th.


Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway: Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Hamlin's seventh career Cup start at Bristol Motor Speedway and 120th Cup start of Hamlin’s career. Last fall, Hamlin brought the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota home in third place after working his way into second as Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch battled for the lead. In March of last year, Hamlin led 98 laps and held the lead for the green-white-checkered restart before a fuel-pickup problem stalled the car as he took the green flag on lap 504. With only intermittent power, it was all he could do to bring the car home in sixth. In the fall 2007 race Hamlin was forced to the back for the start after a post-practice engine change, but that didn't stop him from making his way up to sixth place in only 103 laps. It was at that time, however, that the first signs of engine trouble started and the #11 FedEx machine would only make it 100 additional laps before the engine let go and Hamlin was forced from the race. Much like the race at Bristol in the Spring of 2008, the spring of 2007 event ended with fuel pick-up agony. Hamlin led 177 laps before a late fuel-pickup problem stalled him on a restart with less than 20 laps to go and relegated him to a 14th-place finish.

FedEx Express – St. Louis ramp and market “Along for the Ride” in Bristol: The #11 FedEx Express Camry will feature “STL” on the wing caps this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. STL is the code for the FedEx Express ramp and market that is being recognized for their ninth consecutive “Ace” award for operational excellence and quality performance.

BRISTOL CHASSIS – JGR 222 & 232: JGR 222 will carry the FedEx Express livery this weekend at Bristol. Though the first race of the 2009 season for this car, it posted third-place finishes at both Auto Club and Indy during the 2008 season. JGR 232 will serve in backup duty this weekend.


HAMLIN CONVERSATION – BRISTOL:
Back to Bristol this weekend – do you feel like this place owes you a win?: “I would like to say yes but I’ve definitely learned that it’s never that easy. No place owes you a win no matter how close you’ve come over the years. You really have to earn a win in this series, and you need a little bit of luck on your side. We’ve been really close at Bristol and watched a couple potential wins slip away with mechanical issue but I think it makes this team want to win all that much more. Bristol is a special place to race and to win - we’ve been right there but just missed closing the deal. We’re hoping to change that this weekend.”

Fuel pick up issues have bitten you twice here – is it hard to put that out of your mind?: “I was frustrated the first time and it was really hard to take the second time it happened. You run a good race, you play it right on fuel and then you just can’t get those last few drops when you need them. It was a situation where we had the fuel but when I went to the throttle on the restart it wouldn’t pick it up. Everyone at the shop was working to fix the problem and we’ve got it figured out. We ran really good here last fall and I don’t expect to have the problem again.”

You’ve said before this spring stretch is one favorite stretches of the season: “This is a great stretch of races and this is where we expect to be at our best. In Bristol and Martinsville we have short tracks where we’ve run really good in past seasons and where we think the combination of our equipment and my strengths as a driver really suits the track. We’ve had a win at Martinsville and been close at Bristol. From there we go to tracks like Texas, Phoenix and Talladega where we’ve been good before going home to Richmond. We want to be challenging for wins and these are places where we really feel we can do that. We also see these tracks again at the end of the season as you head into the Chase or when you are deep into the Chase so we want to put together good races now in the Spring, and I hope we’ll come back to these tracks in the fall racing for a championship.”

Hamlin, FedEx Racing Strong Early but Settle for 13th in Atlanta

Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing Team’s up and then down weekend continued on race day, as a they charged to the front early in the race, but succumbed to handling issues late that saw Hamlin cross the line in 13th-place in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Going into Sunday, Hamlin and the team had improved the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota in every practice session. He was 29th in Friday practice, placed sixth in qualifying and then rose to third on the chart in final practice on Saturday. On Sunday he worked his way up to second place 20 laps into the event but could do no better as he would ultimately finish 13th after battling a very, very loose car throughout the remainder of the race.

Sunday’s race was dominated by Kurt Busch, who led 234 of 330 laps and held off Jeff Gordon in a green-white-checkered finish to claim the win. Gordon remained the NASCAR Sprint Cup point leader through four races and Hamlin, who entered the race 14th in points, holds that position as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads into a rare off weekend.


“Only one time all day was the car tight – about ten laps into the race,” shrugged Hamlin. “When an event is 500 miles there is plenty of time to try to fix the car. We are struggling to find the handle on the car at intermediate size tracks. We were loose, loose, loose today and Mike Ford and the FedEx Ground team did just about everything they could to try to fix the car. We adjusted the shocks, added a spring rubber, wedge, track-bar messed with the air pressure in the tires. We’d get it right and then after 15-17 laps the car would go loose again. There were times I thought we were going to wreck. The right rear tire would just slide out from under me.”

“It is kinda an off week next week – we are testing for two days at Darlington then I want to go sit by the lake and relax. We were good at Bristol last year in both races and almost put the FedEx Toyota in victory lane – it would be nice to be there in two weeks.”

Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and rookie Joey Logano came home in 18th and 30th, respectively. The schedule picks up again in two weeks time when the Cup Series moves to the high banked half-mile of Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN.

Under sunny skies in Hampton, Georgia, Hamlin started in sixth on the grid and, after a quick first pit stop on lap ten, came out in third place then grabbed second place on lap 19 – his highest running position of the day. Busch preferred the high line all afternoon while Hamlin was content with the #11 Camry glued to the yellow line. During an extended green-flag run and prior to his stop on lap 65, Hamlin reported, “I’ve got my hands full and I am about to wreck,” and “I am just trying to keep off the wall.”

Two laps after Hamlin left the pits the caution flew as a crew member from Marcos Ambrose’s team ran across the pit road to retrieve a loose tire dangerously close to the race track. This temporarily put Denny a lap down. But once the field cycled through the stops Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Ground team were awarded the “Lucky Dog” and once again placed on the lead lap. At this point in the race, because of the extended green flag and the yellow flying just as the leaders were about to pit, only Denny and five other drivers were scored on the lead lap.

When the green flag flew on lap 72, Jimmie Johnson led followed by Clint Boyer, Martin Truex Jr., Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Hamlin. Over the course of the next 116 laps and four more pit stops, Hamlin suffered the same problem he’d fight all afternoon – a very loose car – however he lost only two positions on the track. Each time he came in the pits the team made major adjustments in lightening fast time to keep Denny on the lead lap and in contention, never going a lap down because of the problems. On his sixth pit stop on lap 188 the team made the most dramatic changes – adding a spring rubber to the left rear, adjusting both rear shocks and making air pressure adjustments to keep Hamlin in eighth place.

As the race continued Hamlin held strong through his troubles of fighting a loose car and the crew helped him gain track position in the pits. On lap 221 Hamlin was up to fourth and, then with 100 laps remaining in the event, Hamlin was scored in third position behind Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, with eventual race winner Kurt Busch right behind him in fourth.

On lap 228 Denny reported the car was “tight” but just a few laps later the term “loose” was back and remained a constant descriptor through the end of the race. Hamlin started to drop in the running order almost immediately and really struggled to keep pace. After a yellow and more attempts to tighten the car up Hamlin restarted 10th on lap 264 and Mike Ford and the team decided to take a chance when the yellow flew again on lap 271 and stay out and attempt to make it on fuel for the remainder of the race. Because some cars in front of him pitted, Denny was sixth when the green flew with 51 laps remaining in the race – but that didn’t last long as the car grew more and more loose and he was ultimately passed by seven cars before coming across the line in 13th place.

FedEx Racing Express Facts - Atlanta

RACE INFO:
Event: Kobalt Tools 500
Date/Time: March 8, 2009/2 p.m.
2008 winner: Kyle Busch
2008 pole winner: Jeff Gordon
Distance: 325 laps/500.5 miles
Track Length: 1.54 miles
Banking: 24 degrees
Track Shape: Quad Oval

EXPRESS NOTES:
Vegas in the Rear View: Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team scored a frustrating 22nd-place finish at Las Vegas last weekend. Despite suffering a lap-three incident that caused damage to the right front of the car, Hamlin had a very competitive car and ran in the top-ten for parts of the afternoon. Unfortunately, a lap 172 spin further damaged the car and ultimately forced Hamlin a lap down before the end. Hamlin gains one spot in the standings heading to Atlanta and currently sits in 14th place – 127 points behind Jeff Gordon in first.

Hamlin at Atlanta Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Hamlin's eighth career Cup start at Atlanta Motor Speedway and 119th career Sprint Cup start. Last fall, Hamlin led 56 laps leading into the ninth caution of the day, but couldn’t hold off the charge of Carl Edwards as the #99 passed on the restart. Hamlin broke loose under pressure from Jimmie Johnson on the final lap but held on to finish third. In the spring of 2008, Hamlin turned in a 15th-place finish after losing his power steering with more than 100 laps to run. Despite the loss of the mechanical aid, Hamlin gained five spots over the closing laps. During the fall race of 2007, Hamlin and the FedEx team fell victim to water that had collected in the fuel tank over the course of the event and it ultimately stalled the #11 while Hamlin brought the field to the green flag during a late race restart. The water, found in the tanks providing fuel to all of the competitors during the race, had displaced fuel in the tank of the #11 car and skewed the team's fuel calculations and left Hamlin to finish 24th. Perhaps Hamlin's best outing at AMS came in the spring of 2006 when the #11 was the fastest car on the track early in the race, leading four times for a total of 16 laps, before a loose wheel forced him off the lead lap and caused him to finish 31st. Hamlin's posted an impressive eighth-place finish as rookie in the fall of 2006.

FedEx Home Delivery – New England Region “Along for the Ride” in Atlanta: The #11 FedEx Ground Camry will feature “QNEG” on the wing caps this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. QNEG is the code for the FedEx Home Delivery - New England Region and the group is being recognized for leading all FedEx Ground regions in customer service scores.

ATLANTA CHASSIS – JGR 196 & 222: The team will unload car 196 this weekend in Atlanta. This is the first race of the 2009 campaign for this car, though it had four starts in 2009 – posting top-ten finishes at Darlington and Pocono. JGR 222 will serve in backup at Atlanta. This car posted third-place finishes at both Auto Club and Indy during the 2008 season.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – ATLANTA:

Atlanta has been a mixed bag for the #11 FedEx team – what is it about this track?: “We’ve had some good races at Atlanta but don’t have a win to show for it. Two years ago we made the decision to stay out and restart in the lead but that was when we had the water in the fuel tank and the car stalled Last season I led a bunch of laps and had the chance to win it at the end but just couldn’t hold off the #99 on the restart. It’s taken some time to really figure this place out but we have good cars and I think it’s just a matter of time before we put all of the pieces together. Handling seems to be the biggest issue at Atlanta. It’s such a fast track, it has a lot of grip and the track changes a lot over the course of the race. It seems you end up battling your car and trying to find a place where your car works well. We’ll have to respond the best we can to the changing conditions, and hopefully we can make the right adjustments to make sure we have the car at it’s best for the end.”

Three races into the season – where does the #11 FedEx team stand?: “That first month of the season is a grind so I think we are all happy to have Daytona and the trip out west for two races behind us. It’s good for everyone to get home, get back on a normal race schedule and that really starts now as we head to Atlanta. As far as on track I think we were unlucky not to finish better at Daytona - we had a great car and we would have been a factor at the end if not for the wreck. We ran really good at California and then had a good car at Vegas but had some damage early and then couldn’t get track position. We’d like to have some better finishes for sure but the season is just getting starting. We’re focused - the results will start coming.”

Is It Just Me Or....

Is the lack of testing hurting the men I love to cheer and boo from the East Coast to the West Coast and all points between?

Last night's Auto Club 500 was the most uneventful race I have seen in quite a long day. I hate crashes, especially when it involves my Fed Ex Toyota but seeing Kevin Harvick crash into the wall and end his streak of races without a DNF was the highlight of the 250 lap event. Every other caution was for rain drops, threatening to shorten yet another race. Thankfully the rain let up and we got to see all of the scheduled laps.

I grew tired of follow the leader a number of years ago and when the leader hails out of the Hendrick camp or is defending series Champion Jimmie Johnson I totally lose interest. I'm over it and ready to see someone else lead and win something. Which is why I am thrilled for Matt Kenseth's 2 for 2 streak he's got going on.

I'm a die-hard Joe Gibbs Racing fan, I want one of my three Toyotas up front, preferably Denny Hamlin every race for every lap. But if that can't happen I'll root for the Roush boys any day. They are all class acts who are talented beyond belief. Their owner may leave a little to be desired but he knows how to get it done. And Kenseth has shown that flashy isn't always the way to get attention.

Denny Hamlin had an impressive sixth place finish, jumping up 13 spots to 14th, just 150 points back of the leader and a mere 13 points out of the top 12 coveted spots to make it into the Chase. Quite a turn around from last week's Daytona 500 crash.

Amazing pit stops, great hustle and a never quit attitude by driver Denny Hamlin showed that the Fed Ex Freight Toyota could hang with the big boys. The real season starts when the haulers roll into Fontana and when Hamlin made his way out on the track he proved that he was ready to race.

The Fed Ex Racing crew heads for the bright lights of Las Vegas this weekend. High roller Hamlin, who proved he had luck on his side with his friendly wagers at the Bud Shootout Selection Show among his Toyota comrades, will be hoping to charm lady luck and attempt to bring home a trophy from the land of the rising son. Sounds appropriate doesn't it?

NASCAR Sprint Cup Point Standings ~ As of Auto Club 500

The Unofficial Point Standings after the Auto Club 500
~Race 2 of 36 ~ Will be updated as soon as official points are posted

1. (--) Matt Kenseth 385 Leader
2. (+10) Jeff Gordon 304 -81
3. (-8) Kurt Busch 294 -91
4. (+3) Tony Stewart 294 -91
5. (+15) Greg Biffle 268 -117
6. (-2) Clint Bowyer 266 -119
7. (+1) Michael Waltrip 264 -121
8. (-2) David Ragan 262 -123
9. (+9) Carl Edwards 260 -125
10. (+4) Juan Montoya 256 -129
11. (-6) Elliott Sadler 248 -137
12. (+1) David Reutimann 248 -137

    ---

13. (-10) AJ Allmendinger 241 -144
14. (-6) Reed Sorenson 235 -150
15. (+12) Denny Hamlin 235 -150
16. (-14) Kevin Harvick 219 -166
17. (-7) Martin Truex Jr 217 -168
18. (+20) Kyle Busch 215 -170
19. (+12) Jimmie Johnson 213 -172
20. (-4) Casey Mears 209 -176
21. (-4) Marcos Ambrose 212 -173
22. (-1) Bobby Labonte 205 -180
23. (+6) Kasey Kahne 203 -182
24. (+9) David Stremme 193 -192
25. (-6) John Andretti 181 -204
26. (+14) Brian Vickers 180 -205
27. (-12) Mark Martin 168 -217
28. (+9) Jamie McMurray 167 -218
29. (+3) Sam Hornish Jr 161 -224
30. (+12) Travis Kvapil 146 -239
31. (-3) Jeff Burton 146 -239
32. (-7) Scott Riggs 143 -242
33. (+3) Ryan Newman 134 -251
34. (--) Robby Gordon 134 -251
35. (-9) Dale Earnhardt Jr 133 -252
36. (-6) Aric Almirola 131 -254
37. (+6) Joey Logano 119 -266
38. (+3) Jeremy Mayfield 104 -281
39. (--) Paul Menard 101 -284
40. (-18) Regan Smith 100 -285
41. (-6) Scott Speed 98 -287
42. (-19) Bill Elliott 94 -291
43. (-19) Terry Labonte 91 -294
44. (--) David Gilliland 64 -321
45. (--) Dave Blaney 37 -348
46. (-2) Joe Nemechek 34 -351

Time To Step It Up

Denny Hamlin started the season at Daytona on a high note. He drew fifth for the Budweiser Shootout. He even won a few friendly wagers with his buddies during the selection show, without question the funniest part of the entire night. He finished in a blaze of glory caught up in a crazy crash which saw him finish 13th.

Then he started his Gatorade Duel 13th and finished fifth, a pretty impressive turn around with numbers that have me shaking my head and chuckling to myself. Strange.

He rolled off the grid tenth for the Daytona 500 and once again went down in a blaze of glory at the hands of none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr, who made the Neanderthal move of the year when he deliberately turned into Brian Vickers below the yellow line right in front of the leaders, and Hamlin found himself 26th when the smoke cleared. And to add insult to injury, he is currently 27th in the Sprint Cup points standings, behind none other than Dale Jr himself.

This week Hamlin leaves the sun and sand of Daytona behind him and heads to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. During the first practice Hamlin turned in the sixth fastest time with a speed of 180.298. His qualifying effort, however, sees him starting 23rd on Sunday.

No reason to panic, yet. That's the thought that comes to mind, but I have erased that notion and replaced it with no need to panic, ever. This is Denny Hamlin we're talking about after all. Daytona may be the season opener, but it does little to display a driver's talent. It's not that hard to mash the pedal to the floor and hold on. The hard part is staying out of other people's way and avoid their bone head moves.

California has the chance to set Hamlin apart from the rest of the field. What he does come Sunday when the green flag waves will be the true test of what he's made of and how his season will go for 2009. Forget Daytona, focus on Cali. I CAN I WILL. It's time to put that into practice and show that swagger that makes me write this blog, refuse to miss a single second of the Fed Ex Toyota driver's seat time and cheer until I'm hoarse and my cheeks are tear stained. Step it up or shut up!

Texas Nightmare Straight Out of Halloween For Hamlin

Texas proved to be a trick rather than a treat for Fed Ex Toyota driver Denny Hamlin. He started the Dickies 500 in 17th position and finished in the exact same spot. Not exactly the way you want to come away from a race, especially when you're fighting for a spot in the Chase and there are just 2 races left.

The good news for Hamlin, however is that he heads into Phoenix just 2 points behind 11th place Dale Earnhardt Jr and 3 points behind teammate Kyle Busch who is clinging to the tenth spot in the Chase. There is a bright spot on the horizon for Denny Hamlin and when he shakes off the disappointment of Texas and rebounds, he just might make the stage at the Waldorf Astoria after all.

“We definitely fought a car that was really hard to drive all afternoon,” said a frustrated Hamlin after a long afternoon. “We just didn't get it figured out. The FedEx Office guys tried almost everything they could and we just couldn't get it right. We were loose on exit, tight in the center, we couldn't put the throttle down. There was no reaction out of the front end - you say it, it happened to us. Instead of going up in the points we dropped to 12th in the Chase. Again, we tried everything and nothing fixed the problems. We went 500-miles today - we started 17th and came home in the same spot - unreal. So, we're off to Phoenix where I hope we can rally one for the FedEx team before the season ends.”

It was only the second time in seven starts that Hamlin finished outside of the top ten at Texas Motor Speedway and the result broke a string of two consecutive top-five finishes.

As early as the third lap of the 334-lap race Hamlin was struggling with an ill handling car. On his first pit stop on lap 50 the team made major changes – air pressure adjustment, a wedge adjustment and then added a spring rubber to help the handling of the car but, unfortunately the changes didn't have the desired effect. Hamlin continued to be passed and fell deeper back in the field.

On the radio, Hamlin stated “We just can’t put the throttle down,” referring to his constant struggle for grip off the corners. By his third pit stop on lap 113 he was running 26th and the leaders were catching him and threatening to put Denny a lap down. On lap 132 of 334, then leader Carl Edwards passed Hamlin to drop him a lap down. It was, unfortunately, a lap he would never make up despite several close calls throughout the afternoon.

More pit stops led to more changes and the car got neutral – not worse, for the remainder of the day. Hamlin continued to do battle working his back to 18th by his sixth pit stop on lap 241. He would hold that position as the laps counted down and would pick up the 17th position when Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out of fuel.

Texas is a distant memory and right now I'm thinking about the drivel that I found in my inbox today. When I opened my email to check on my favorite NASCAR driver and a man who has become one of my closest friends, I read some of the most heinous words that I have ever had the displeasure to come across. Someone found it appropriate to call Denny a low life scum sucking excuse for a human being and said that he was more like a dog than a person.

Well I take that personally. Denny on the other hand doesn't really care what people have to say about him. While I admire that ability to just let it roll off his back, I just can't do that. Let me make one thing very clear. The media doesn't portray people accurately. You only see what a producer wants you to see. You are only given the questions the reporters are told to ask.

Microphones are thrust into a driver's face when they are at their most frustrating, disappointing, angry moments and their true emotions come out because they are men. NASCAR screams for more emotion and then the media rakes anyone who shows it over the coals and crucifies them for weeks and refuses to let the drama die.

Denny Hamlin's words after Michigan are still brought up by Alan Bestwick on a regular basis. Jimmy Spencer and Kyle Petty take pot shots at Denny every time they are allowed to open their jaws and spew their putrid opinions on national television. Truth is, those guys will never know Denny Hamlin as anything other than their replacement. He will always be the guy they could never be. He has more raw talent in his left arm than they will ever hope to have and they're jealous.

Kyle Petty may be a great guy and do remarkable things for critically ill children and honor the memory of his precious son Adam, but he is not his father. And he really needs to learn how to keep his personal opinions and confrontations out of the media. Yes, he is hired to share how he feels, but his anger and bitterness over a confrontation that is WAY over is still evident and Mr. Petty needs to get over it.

I don't demand that you like my driver. There are so many to choose from and they all deserve to be followed. Everyone deserves a fan. But before you write hateful things that are uncalled for about someone you don't know the first thing about... get to know them. Not what a TV camera shows you. If you don't like Denny Hamlin, that's fine with me. I hope you support someone who deserves your admiration.

To hold an on-track incident with NASCAR's favorite son or his errand boy against Denny is ludacris. There are more scrapes that you don't see than ones the camera actually catches. Let them fight it out and deal with it themselves. It was months ago and it's their battle. It makes for good drama and keeps me tuned in every week. It's inevitable in a male-dominated sport, there will be fights and it will be hilarious. They always are. But hateful words about someone you have never laid eyes on in person is never okay.

The man you called those things has been there for me personally when I needed him and has gone out of his way to be good to me. He's someone's son, friend and hero. He has feelings and the people that read your words care deeply about him even if you don't. You can express yourself without being so evil. I suggest looking at yourself in the mirror and asking how you'd feel if it was said about you or someone precious to you.

Hit send, post published.. blogger out. Off to Phoenix. Man I feel better. Sometimes you just have to get some things off your chest.

D Ham in the ATL

Martinsville is a distant memory and D Ham is heading for the bright lights of the ATL and Atlanta Motorspeedway. He came away with a solid Top 5 finish that helped boost his confidence and proved that once again you can't keep the Virginia boy down at his home track.

When I talked to Denny on Monday, he had some pretty interesting questions to answer for me and I want to share those with you. I have to keep the wheel man on his toes and this week I certainly did just that!

Becca: What happened with the car? I heard mention that the car was really loose in practice and that perhaps the team tightened it up just a bit too much. Please tell me about that.
Denny: Well yes the car was loose during practice and it was just to free for us. The crew tightened it up for us but it was just to tight and hard for us to turn the corners. We finally got it adjusted the way that we needed it during a pit stop.

Becca: Rain once again cancelled qualifying and cost valuable practice time. What are your thoughts on that?
Denny: We were pretty disappointed that it rained out most of practice and qualifying. We felt we could have gotten a better starting position and we just feel like we were robbed of that because of weather.

Becca: What is your favorite TV Show?
Denny: I don't really get much time to watch tv but when I do I like to watch CSI and Family Guy.

Becca: What is your biggest pet peeve? For me it's people who are late...what's yours?
Denny: I would have to say people that are rude.

Becca: What is your favorite number? (Mine is 11..hmmm....wonder why? HA HA)
Denny: haha I don't really have a favorite number but I guess I would have to say 11 too. It is the best number ever made right? haha

Becca: Atlanta is next in the Chase, what is your track record at Atlanta? How do you feel about your chances there?
Denny: I feel that we are pretty good there. Depending on how the weather treats us this weekend and how the car handles I say we will get a decent finish.

Becca: If you could ask ME 2 questions what would you like to ask me?
Denny: Why you think I'm so special and How did you end up knowing so much about NASCAR?

~Alright D Ham...here's the answer to those two questions....

1. Why do I think you're so special? Because as a rookie in 2006, you won the Bud Shootout against NASCAR's fastest and finest. You came back from being laps down at Pocono to win your first race, you don't wreck race cars or crash people to win and you're a gentleman. You have talent that impresses me and you drive for the best owners in the sport. On the personal side, there isn't a kinder, more thoughtful, genuine man on this planet let alone in the sport of NASCAR. I don't need to tell you my reasons lately because you already know them, but when I look at you I see your heart and the man behind the race car driver. I really like that... it's rare and quite valuable.

2. How did I end up knowing so much about NASCAR? Well, I've watched racing since I was 7 years old. Cars are my passion and I thirst for knowledge about them. I read books, watch TV shows, listen to Tim Brewer who has become my new best friend, I can't listen to him enough, and I just pay attention. I ask a lot of questions, when I don't understand something I search it on the internet or ask someone who would know. I eat, sleep and breathe racing. I can't drive a race car but that doesn't mean I can't know about them. It's my love.

Becca: Who was the driver I followed just before your Rookie season when I became your biggest fan?
Denny: There you go testing my memory! You know my memory is horrible haha. Umm.....lets see..I gotta think about this.....Elliot Sadler. haha

Now my D Ham is in the ATL and he's running a Craftsman Truck Series race in the # 15 Toyota. Billy Ballew Motorsports officials said Monday that Sprint Cup driver Denny Hamlin will drive the team’s No. 15 Toyota in this weekend’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hamlin has driven in two Truck series races for Ballew, including one earlier this year at Martinsville, where he started second and finished 21st.

“I consider Billy a good friend, and this is a home race for him,” Hamlin said. “I’ve watched the trucks at Atlanta, and it’s a wild race. I’ve actually watched it from Billy’s suite at the track, and it just looks like fun, so when he asked if I was interested, I jumped at the chance. “I’ve been in the trucks before, not many times, but enough to get a feel for them and to know this will be a totally different race from what I’ve done before. I raced trucks at Texas, but that was four years ago, so I am sure it will take a couple of laps to get back in the swing of it. After that, it’s just trying to find the comfort level and be competitive."Hamlin, who drives Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 Toyota in the Cup series, has made eight Truck starts, with a best finish of eighth at Martinsville two years ago.

Rain set into Atlanta and once again forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying and set the field according to points. Hamlin will roll out 11th and should have a really good shot at a good finish. I just finished watching NCTS practice and Denny was way too tight and the team will need some adjustments before race time. Regardless, I am excited to see Denny in a Truck at Atlanta. He will start 20th next to Donny Lia after their qualifying was also rained out. NASCAR elected to make the qualifying session a much needed practice time which was in my opinion, one of the wisest choices they have made in quite a while.

I'm growing ever so tired of rain and truly believe NASCAR needs to make a change to their qualifying rules. But then again, since the pole position no longer matters, there really isn't much of a point to the whole thing. When NASCAR changed the Bud Shootout rules it made winning a pole position pointless, literally and figuratively. As a die-hard race fan, I want to see the cars on the track as often as possible. And with the amount of money race teams are putting into simply attempting to make a race, something has to change. But I've lost my focus and I need to rope this back in and talk about Denny Hamlin.

Atlanta is very special to me and I am excited about seeing my hero race there this weekend. But it is also kinda sad because the season is rapidly winding down and then I will have the long, cold winter without my favorite driver every weekend. But I guess even Superman needs a rest. Made of steel or not, Denny Hamlin deserves some time off. But not quite yet.... Boogity Boogity Boogity....Let's Go Racing Boys!!!!

Rain Rain Go Away

I'm not sure if Mother Nature's tantrum in Martinsville, Virginia this weekend is a blessing or a curse. I hate to see the field set according to Sprint Cup points. The rule book shouldn't get to decide who makes the field and who goes home. Every team has the same right to try their hand at making the field and I don't like to see weather dictate who is worthy of a starting position for a race.

Then there's the matter of Martinsville being home turf for Denny Hamlin. I was so looking forward to seeing how stout his race car was going to be. I guess I'll have to wait until Sunday to get my first glance at the Fed Ex Toyota. Times likes these are when I'm disappointed. My devotion never waivers based on performances. Start from the pole or be the caboose, I still think Denny Hamlin can win every week. Crash out and visit the local hospital, I'm still proud of my D Ham. Rob him of the chance to prove his talents, I feel cheated.

So I excitedly await the start of Sunday's race, equipped with my Tums and my tissues. I can't help but tear up when I see Denny take the green flag at his home track in front of Virginia natives who agree with me that he is one of the state's finest racers and classiest gentlemen. When Mama and Daddy Hamlin brought D Ham into this world they blessed it with the most amazing man to ever take a breath. So come Sunday afternoon, I will be holding mine to see if my dreams for my friend and hero will come true.

If I could have it my way, I'd get to see Denny Hamlin wave a Dasani bottle with tears in his eyes, struggling for words to describe how he feels. Perhaps Mother Nature did me a favor by raining on my parade so that Denny could start closer to the front. That is yet to be seen. But you can guarantee I will be watching intently to see the outcome. Regardless, I will be overwhelmed at getting to watch NASCAR's finest turn 500 laps.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Denny Hamlin was 7th in Happy Hour Practice at Martinsville. His best speed was 94.148 mph with his fastest time at 20.110 seconds per lap. His average speed was 93.053 mph. He had the fast time 7 times with 74 laps run in practice. I've got hope and know that the Fed Ex Freight Toyota will be contending for the win when the green flag waves Sunday afternoon.

Martinsville Preview

March 30th is a day that Denny Hamlin will always remember. When he is retired, with a bunch of grandkids climbing on his lap, he will talk about that day in 2008 when he won the Goody's Cool Orange 500 in front of his hometown crowd. It's the day he took home the Grandfather clock his team had teased him about until he finally won it. Every time he winds it he will recall the champagne flowing and the Gatorade showers he endured as he climbed from his winning race car.

This weekend he returns to Martinsville Speedway to attempt a repeat. This weekend will mark Hamlin’s seventh career Sprint Cup start at Martinsville Speedway and a return to site of his lone Cup victory this season. Hamlin led a total of 82 laps in March to claim his fourth career Cup win and add to his pole win here in the spring 2007 race. Last year Hamlin sat on the pole for the spring race and led 125 laps before finishing third. In his previous starts Hamlin has only finished out of the top-10 once, a 41st place finish when he wrecked out of the spring event in 2006.

Few drivers can say they have raced Late Models, had late-race shootouts with Cup champions as a rookie, and claimed a win all on the same track but that's exactly what Hamlin has experienced at Martinsville. His history at the "paper clip" dates back to his Late Model career and racing in the annual “Taco Bell 300” and “Bailey’s 300” on five occasions from 2000-2004. Hamlin won the pole for the race in 2003 and recorded finishes of 15th, 12th, 7th, 10th and 3rd, respectively.

Martinsville Chassis – JGR 214 & 166: The FedEx team will unload Chassis JGR 214 this weekend at Martinsville. This car started both races at New Hampshire this season, posting finishes of 8th and 9th. Hamlin also drove this car to a 23rd-place finish at Pocono in August. JGR 166 delivered Hamlin's win at Martinsville in March and then dominated at Richmond in May before a cut tire lead to a 24th place finish.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION - MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

It's no secret that Martinsville is a special place for you - Talk about the win in March and what it means to race here: "Well we definitely didn't think that win in March would be our only win of the season coming back to Martinsville six or seven months later but it just reminds you of how hard it is to win races in the Cup Series. To win at Martinsville was huge for me because, like Richmond, it's a home track for me. I know so many of my fans are here and they have been supportive of me from the days when I was running Late Models here. So to come back here after making it to the Cup series, to win a pole here last season and then to take the grandfather clock home this Spring was unreal. That clock went right to my parent's house in Chesterfield. It just seemed right that it go there. Of all the trophies we talked about winning when we were starting out and racing all over Virginia, it was that clock we always wanted for the house."

With five races to go, there is still time to end this season on a high note. Can Martinsville be a launching pad?: "The spring race here (Martinsville) helped turn around some bad luck from the week before at Bristol - where we ran well and had mechanical issues at the end - and then gave us some momentum for a really good stretch of races for this team. There is something about coming back to a familiar place like Martinsville. I'm sure I have turned more laps here than I have anywhere else considering I raced here growing up and just coming back to a place like this gives me and this whole team confidence. It's a track I know well and it's the kind of track that I still think is my strongest - short, flat tracks that really test your car control. We're not at all happy about the way this Chase has gone for us but it's not about a lack of effort. A good run here could go a long way toward having a strong end to the season because we like the tracks we have left on the schedule and would like nothing more than end this season on a high note."

As a die-hard Denny Hamlin fan, I like to think that my driver has the inside track to Victory Lane. I know what he's capable of and while I realize his flaws unlike anyone else, I also realize his desire to win at this track more than any other. Denny and I have talked about Martinsville and he knows he has had good luck and good runs there. It's a track he is familiar with and given the right combination of things, I am positive that I will see the Fed Ex Toyota in Victory Lane when the checkered flag waves.

I like to think that history has a habit of repeating itself. I also like to think that fire and determination give a driver a distinct advantage. Given the string of bad luck D Ham has gone through over the last few weeks, I know he is hungry for that Chase victory. I for one can't wait to see what he's got for the circuit's oldest track. Qualifying should be interesting. I think the first practice will show what he's got for the rest of the field. I predict a fast race car and perhaps a pole sitting time when time trials are completed. I have an undying devotion to Chesterfield, Virginia's native son and I know he will be stout come race day. So fierce, I like that!

We're NOT in Kansas Anymore!

First of all, I would like to extend my sincerest Thank Yous to all the fans who sent Denny a Get Well Message this week. It means a lot to me, and to him, to know that you all read the posts and care enough to take the time out to leave comments. Denny has read your well wishes and if you'd like to see what he had to say, please check it out.

Denny reassured me that while he is still a little sore, he is healthy and ready to race at Martinsville. He was extremely upbeat and light-hearted during our weekly conversation, which was a good sign to me that he's back to being the D Ham we all adore. I talked to him about going back home to Virginia to race at Martinsville, his car at Charlotte and just some things I wanted to know.

Here is an excerpt from our chat before I get in to the interview:

Hello Becca,

Thank you for all of your devoted support. It means the world to me to know you care that much about me. I am honestly doing fine. I'm still sore but I'm healthy and ready to race at Martinsville. It means a lot to me to know that you care so much about my health so thank you. I hope you have a great week. Take care.

Denny Hamlin

Becca: What happened with the car at Charlotte? You said that you were being dragged down the front stretch...what was going on?
Denny: Well the car was horrible all together. It wasn't turning right and it just felt like we were being dragged. I am actually surprised that we finished as good as we did.

Becca: You won at Martinsville in the spring, what are your feelings on a repeat?

Denny: We would love to get another win at Martinsville. We are 12th in points right now and we would like to gain a few positions and the only way we can do that is to get some wins. As you know we are good at Martinsville and with it being my home track it would mean everything to me to get another win there.

Becca: After a tough couple of weeks, what would a win at Martinsville mean to you?

Denny: It would mean everything to me. With the couple of weeks we had we are hungry for another win.

Becca: Are you maintaining your focus and goals for the Chase or are you adding a second set of goals for Martinsville?

Denny: We are just looking at winning at the moment. If we get a few wins under our belt then we can focus on the chase.

Becca: It's always pretty special to go home, but after Dega do you have a little more emotion going where you have so many fans and friends?
Denny: Every time I go home there is always more emotion. I put my heart and soul into winning at home and when I don't win there I feel like its a let down not only for me but for my team, fans and family.

Becca: Do you still follow the Redskins? Who is your favorite NFL Player?
Denny: Yes, I still follow the Redskins. I don't really have a favorite player.

Becca: Have you ever met Troy Aikman? Do you ever talk to him? He is my all time favorite NFL player so I was just curious.

Denny: No I have never met Troy Aikman although it would definitely be a pleasure.

His Nationwide series victory in Kansas is a distant memory, he is recovering from that mortifying crash at Talladega and we have resolved that I will not worry so much about him. He's made of steel, or so he's trying to convince me. This week he is back home in Virginia and ready to get down to the business of proving that he is Championship material just like Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle.

Never count Denny out at Martinsville. The adrenaline of the screaming fans, being surrounded by family and friends that support him with the utmost loyalty and the familiarity of home are sure to give Denny the boost of confidence he needs to get to Victory Lane again.

As the season winds down, I reflect on the roller coaster that has been Denny's 2008 Sprint Cup journey. I have ridden along for the highest highs, the lowest lows, the near misses and the scary parts. I must admit there have been tears shed, lots of screams, cheering and disappointments. But I wouldn't trade a single second of it. I love the thrill of the Chase, the pageantry of Daytona and the champagne showers in Victory Lane. And when D Ham walks away with his head hung down, he isn't alone because my head hangs right along with his.

That's what being a fan is. This sport is both challenging and thrilling and an all out war at times. You can't hold on to the past, you have to let it go. You're only as good as your last race and you can't change what was and ponder on what might of been any more. There is no looking back, you must keep looking straight ahead. Keep your eyes on the prize and remember that you love this racing thing and the fans make it all worth it. Well D Ham, I sure hope I do. We've got work to do so let's roll. Let's head to Martinsville Toto, we aren't in Kansas anymore!

Denny Hamlin Hits The Lottery In Kansas

Denny Hamlin has a Coke following his win in the Kansas Lottery 400 at Kansas Motorspeedway


Following his victory in the Nationwide series Kansas Lottery 300 race on Saturday, Denny Hamlin was able to rebound from a 30th place starting position to finish 11th in the Camping World RV 400 and move up to 10th in the series points for the Chase for the Cup. Denny promised me an interview following his next victory and as always, he kept his promise. Here's what he had to say about his weekend.

Becca: After qualifying 19th, did you think you had a chance to win the Nationwide race?
Denny: We knew that our car was good, but we didn't think that we would get a win. Kevin Harvick's car was good as well, so we were just hoping for a top 5 finish.

Becca: Did you approach the race any differently knowing you were starting so deep in the field?
Denny: Well, we just tried to stay focused on getting a good finish. We didn't come to the race knowing we were going to win by any means, but we were sure we would get a top 5 or top 10 finish.

Becca: After you started moving through the field, did your game plan change?
Denny: We knew all along that our car was good enough for atleast a top 10 so we were just trying to get to the front of the pack and see if we could chase down Kevin Harvick for the win. But when he started having problems with his car, we knew we had a chance for the win.

Becca: That pit stop in which you passed Harvick to take the lead was critical. What changes did you make to the car on that stop?
Denny: The car was a little tight off so the crew loosened it up a little.

Becca: You lead the most laps and had a 3 second gap on 2nd place, did you start checking the rear view mirror and asking where the guys were behind you as the laps wound down?
Denny: No, I don't do that because I lose focus if I worry where everyone is. But if I just keep looking in front of me and all I see is asphalt then I stay focus on the win.

Becca: Did it help to have Mike Ford calling the shots on Saturday going into Sunday?
Denny: It helped tremendously. Mike Ford is an awesome crew chief. We work really well together, he helps keep me focused.

Becca: What did you learn on Saturday that helped you out on Sunday?
Denny: The best grooves on the track and to be as patient as you can be but not too patient.

Becca: What happened in qualifying for the Sprint Cup race? Was it the track or the car?
Denny: It was the car. It wasn't turning the way that I needed it to.

Becca: You were able to get just to the Top 10 but never quite crack it on Sunday. What was going on with the car?
Denny: It just wasn't handling the way we wanted it to.

Becca: You made an evasive move down pit lane to avoid Michael Waltrip. Tell me about the decision to do that. ~You are a DRIVING MACHINE by the way!!!~
Denny: Well we didn't see a way out of the wreck and my crew chief told my to go down pit road to avoid it. We had no other way out, if we would have went straight we would of wrecked along with Michael and we didn't want to jeopardize that.

Becca: Talladega is completely different from the other tracks in the Chase - will you approach it differently from the other Superspeedways such as Charlotte, Atlanta and Texas?
Denny: We approach every track the same, we stay focused. But at the same time, as each track comes into the schedule we step up our game more.

Becca: What are your feelings on your Chase contention with just 7 races to go?
Denny: We are happy to be in the chase but we are just focusing on winning at the moment. If we get wins in, we have a chance for the championship.

Becca: Is there anything you'd like to say to me and the rest of your fans?
Denny: I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continuing support. It means so much to me to have such loyal fans cheering me on to victory lane each week. I am very honored to have fans that care that much. I hope to continue to make you all happy.

Just seeing you happy, makes me happy Denny. Knowing that getting that victory gave you the confidence to fight hard on Sunday to gain spots, despite a race car that wouldn't turn is all I can ask for. You truly are amazing and I know there will be more victories before this season is over. Stay focused, know that your fans are cheering for you and that I believe in you.

Thank you for granting me this interview D Ham. It truly is a privilege to discuss your victory with you. All the best at Talladega. Stay safe and race hard!

Bristol Shot In The Arm Hamlin Needed

Michigan was not a field of dreams for Denny Hamlin. In fact, it was more like a living nightmare. He went out first to qualify and wound up starting 37th. He fought his way to a solid Top 10 running spot when the unthinkable happened. With just 6 laps to go, his engine blew up. With a bubble spot in the Chase, it was the only thing Denny was praying didn't happen. But it did.

With the frustration still on the tip of his tongue, Hamlin gave an interview and said that the team made stupid choices and they didn't deserve to be in the Chase. A logical thought after his last 3 months. Apparently, it wasn't the popular thing to say and the press crucified him over it. Kyle Petty berated him while fans booed. The media blew it all out of proportion, as they are known to do, and it insighted a near riot. Nothing like kicking a man when he's down.

With just three critical races left to the Chase cut-off, Denny knew that Bristol was a make or break night for him. Have good luck, take a quick breath. Continue your bad luck and it was time to kiss a spot in the points battle goodbye. Jeff Hammond named D Ham as one of the drivers on his list to miss the Chase.

One thing you should never do, for all those critics out there, is count Denny Hamlin out. No matter how grim things may look for him, never underestimate the power of Virginia's finest. Oh yeah, and never count out his fans. Hamlin needed a shot of self esteem and a boost of confidence and his fans delivered.

When qualifying was over, Denny was sitting a solid 21st. The same starting position he had for the Nationwide Series race on Friday night. He made his way through traffic and was running 10th when he got into the 7 car of Mike Wallace with 31 laps to go ending his night in the Food City 250.

This time when he climbed out of his crinkled 32 Dollar General Toyota, there was a smile on his face. Despite a DNF his confidence never waivered and he was happy. There was something different about Denny and I just knew that he was going to have a great Sharpie 500.

Denny Hamlin had the 11 Fed Ex Freight Toyota running in 10th spot by lap 100. He lost 3 positions following pit stops but quickly moved his way into 7th on lap 185. Hamlin reported the car was very good even though it needed more forward bite.

Crew Chief Mike Ford brought the Fed Ex Freight Toyota down pit road under caution on lap 299. Hamlin was happy with the race car and they made a chassis adjustment, put 1/2 lb of air pressure in the right rear and sent him back out in 4th spot.

With 79 laps to go, Denny passed the 24 of Jeff Gordon to take over 3rd spot and move himself up one spot to 11th in points. Then it was on. Sitting behind the 99 of Carl Edwards and the 18 of Kyle Busch, Hamlin was looking for a chance to pounce. With a caution for debris with 49 laps to go, the Fed Ex crew pulled off the money stop and put on 4 tires and filled it full of Sunoco race fuel in less than 13 seconds.

Hamlin battled back and forth with teammate Kyle Busch for 2nd while Carl Edwards sat comfortably in the lead. Denny had a front row seat for all the action between Edwards and Busch and was praying for the two to wreck each other so he could take over the cat bird seat.

It wasn't in the cards for Hamlin, but the solid third place finish lifted him in the points race and proved that patience and confidence pay off. His post race interview was incredible. While D Ham refused to let himself off the hook as far as the points battle, he did admit that a good finish was the shot of self confidence he was needing.

The team prepares for California and then heads to Hamlin's hometrack in Richmond, Virginia. With a renewed sense of confidence and a few added degrees to the fire burning in Denny Hamlin's belly, the Fed Ex team will be one tough opponent come race day.