| James Dennis Hamlin Jr. or better known as Denny | | | | drover the Busch Series. During the NEXTEL Cup, he |
| Hamlin, was born on November 18, 1980 was born in | | | | managed to beat the previous season's pole winners |
| Tampa, Florida but spent most of his childhood in | | | | in the 2006 Budweiser Shootout and in doing such, he |
| Chesterfield, Virginia. He started racing go karts when | | | | made history as being the first Rookie of the year |
| he was 7 years old in 1988. He was burning up the | | | | candidate to win such an honor. |
| go karting tracks in Richmond, Virginia. By the time he | | | | While during a break at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, |
| was 16, Hamlin had switched to sturdier racing cars. | | | | Hamlin injured his left hand between the pinkie and |
| He was racing stock cars and at his first race at | | | | wrist which brought about 19 stitches as a result |
| Langley Speedway, saw him winning the pole position | | | | from goofing around with some of his crew |
| and the race. From then on, Hamlin raced in the | | | | members. However, despite the serious injury, he still |
| Grand Stock division in 1998 which then spurred him | | | | managed to bag the second spot at the Crown |
| on to Late Model Stock Cars in the year 2000. | | | | Royal 400. He then went on to win his first career |
| Hamlin's lucky break came when he was 24 and | | | | Cup Series at the Pocono 500 and he also managed |
| racing in the Late Model Stock Cars full time. It was | | | | to bring home his second career pole. His second |
| there that Hamlin garnered the attention of Joe Gibbs | | | | career win was achieved in the same year in the |
| Racing who then decided to sign him up for a driver | | | | Pennsylvania 500, Pocono Raceway and again made |
| development program. The same year, Hamlin joined | | | | history for being only the 2nd rookie in the NASCAR |
| the major-league NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | | | | NEXTEL Cup history to get both trophies during the |
| races and the NASCAR Busch Series at Darlington | | | | same season. |
| Speedway. He managed to secure an 8th place finish | | | | During the same Cup series, Hamlin scored the |
| and with that, a stable footing in Joe Gibbs Racing. | | | | Raybestos Rookie of the year with a third finish in |
| Even though he started at 27th after an unfortunate | | | | the final cup standings. He was in the NASCAR |
| qualifying session, Hamlin's skills took over during the | | | | record books once again for being able to score the |
| actual race and showed Joe Gibbs Racing that he | | | | highest ever points finish for a rookie which then led |
| was indeed a good investment. | | | | to him being the first rookie to qualify for the Chase |
| Hamlin ended up replacing Mike Bliss in 2005 for the | | | | for the NEXTEL Cup. He has made many important |
| Busch Series and he ended the race with a steady | | | | figures in the NASCAR world to sit up and take |
| 5th spot in the final championship. He also was able to | | | | notice. His excellent performance is also bringing on |
| compete in his first NEXTEL Cup Series after which | | | | the heat on his other rival drivers. |
| he made his Cup debut after replacing Jason Leffler. | | | | Hamlin now lives in Cornelius, North Carolina to be |
| He went on to finish the Cup season with 3 top 10 | | | | close to the tracks. When he is off track, he spends |
| finishes in seven starts and one pole at Phoenix | | | | time with his friends, plays online games and the |
| International Raceway. Hamlin had his first full season | | | | occasional game of golf. |
| in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series in 2006 and he also | | | | |