NASCAR: Denny Hamlin is Just Getting Started

Denny Hamlin is considered somewhat new to racing. He began by competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) in 2004. He completed five NCTS races and participated in one NASCAR Busch Series race that year at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. In 2005, Hamlin raced the full season for the Busch Series and had seven starts in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.

Hamlin raced his first full season in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series in 2006. During that time, he continued to race in the Busch Series and won his first Busch Series race on March 5, 2006 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Rodríguez Brothers Racetrack) in Mexico City, Mexico. On June 11, 2006, Hamlin achieved his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series win at the Pocono 500 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. That year Hamlin won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award for the NEXTEL Cup Series.

Recent concerns that high temperatures in the cockpit could be caused by dangerous levels of carbon monoxide has sparked the decision to test several cars, including Hamlin's Number 11 Toyota. Hamlin says, "I think it's an issue that NASCAR is going to address and they've already started doing it here, testing six or seven of us on our [carbon monoxide] levels before and after practice," Hamlin said. "They're going to do it after final practice and then again after the race to see what's going on with it. They've already taken steps in the right direction. Then for us as a race team, we've got to get better with our ventilation as well."

For a young driver just getting his feet wet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, Hamlin displays a lot of initiative and generosity. He has already established the Denny Hamlin Foundation. The foundation focuses primarily on raising awareness and funding for the specific needs of individuals afflicted with cystic fibrosis. The foundation partners with organizations whose purpose is to research treatment and to provide care for individuals with cystic fibrosis. The Denny Hamlin Foundation supports chronically ill children with other debilitating illnesses as well. In addition, Hamlin is autographing and selling various possessions (puzzles, spa slippers, stamp dispenser, typewriter, fax machine, slow cooker, car) with all proceeds from the auctions being donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. If you're interested in participating in any of Hamlin's auctions, his Ebay seller name is hurricanehamlin11. Hamlin is also an avid pilot.