Denny Hamlin

Birthday: Nov. 11, 1980
Hometown: Chesterfield, Va.

Hamlin

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2009 -- Finished fifth in series points. ... His four victories were tied for third-best in the series, behind series champion Jimmie Johnson (seven) and runner-up Mark Martin (five). ... Won at Pocono for the third time in eight starts on August 3. The victory was an emotional one for Hamlin after the recent deaths of his grandmother, Thelma Clark, and the mother of tire specialist Patrick Mullen. ... Won at Richmond on Sept. 12, his first in eight tries at his home track .... Won at Martinsville on Oct. 25. ... Led 200-plus laps three times (Martinsville, spring, in a second-place finish), and Richmond and Martinsville in victories. ... Began the Chase seeded fourth, dropped as far as 11th (twice) ... His budding rivalry with rising Cup driver Brad Keselowski became a popular storyline late in the season.

2008 -- Finished eighth in series points. ... Had one win, at Martinsville spring event. ... Made the Chase for the third consecutive year.... Best start of the season was on the pole at Richmond's spring race, where he led 381 laps before finishing 24th.

2007 -- Finished 12th in the series standings. ... Had one win -- at New Hampshire summer race -- with 12 top-fives and 18 top-10s. ... Made the Chase for the second consecutive year. ... Best start of the season was on the pole at Martinsville.

2006 -- Finished third in series points. ... Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year. ... Swept both 2006 Pocono races from the pole. ... Completed first full season of competition.

2005 -- Finished 41st in series points. ... Made his Cup Series debut at Kansas, starting seventh and finishing 32nd. ... Competed in seven Cup races and registered three top-10 finishes, at Charlotte, Martinsville and Texas. ... Earned his first pole at Phoenix in November.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Finished fifth in the 2005 Busch Series points with one top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. ... Finished 37th in 2004 Truck Series points. ... Made his first start in one of NASCAR's national series in the 2004 Truck Series race at IRP, starting seventh and finishing 10th. ... Hamlin is a product of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, where he collected nearly 50 wins from 2002-2004. ... Won 2003 Southern National Speedway Track Championship, posting 25 wins and 30 poles on the season. ... Won his first NASCAR races in 2002 -- 10 total -- along with 15 poles at Southampton (Va.) Motor Speedway. ... Rookie of the year at Southside (Va.) Speedway in Late Model Stocks. ... Mini Stock rookie of the year in 1997 at Southside and Langley Speedways in Virginia; youngest driver to win NASCAR Mini Stock track title at Langley (16). ... Rookie of the year at Southside. ... Collected five championships and 127 feature wins in kart racing career with limited participation in three classes in two seasons. ... Started racing at age 7 in Junior Sportsman competition; won the first event he entered.

NOTEWORTHY

Hamlin began his racing career in go-karts at age 7, and from there on his family hasn't looked back, pouring all they have into Denny's career in motorsports. From the moment he began his family knew he would be a success, so much so that they almost went into financial ruin trying to support his early career. ... He now is a successful full-time Sprint Cup driver with a lakefront home right next to his team owner, Joe Gibbs. ... Hamlin's favorite driver since he was a boy has been Bill Elliott. ... Hamlin also is an avid pilot.