Denny Hamlin looking for continued success at Pocono
Some drivers on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series have been coming to Pocono Raceway for years and have no victories to show for their efforts.
Ken Schrader is winless in 44 career starts at the 2.5-mile triangular track. Sterling Marlin is 0-for-43. Mark Martin 0-for-40.
Then, on the opposite side, there’s Denny Hamlin. Last year as a rookie, in his first visits to Pocono, he swept both races from the pole and led a combined 234 of 400 laps in the No. 11 Chevrolet owned by Joe Gibbs Racing.
Those performances highlighted a 2006 season that also saw the 26-year-old driver from Chesterfield, Va., named Rookie of the Year, win three poles, earn 20 top-10 finishes, qualify for the Chase for the Championship and wind up third in the final point standings.
So far this season, Denny Hamlin has picked up right where he left off. After 13 races, he has one pole (Martinsville), eight top-10 finishes and ranks fourth in the point standings.
Sophomore jinx? What’s that?
“We’re really pleased with the way we’re running,” Denny Hamlin said. “We’ve improved on all our finishes but one. I think it’s just a testament to how strong this team is.”
Coming into the season, Denny Hamlin said he wasn’t concerned with the sophomore jinx. He knew he and his team were going to be a year older and wiser.
“I knew I was going to be a better driver than what I was last year,” Denny Hamlin said. “Our cars were going to be better. (Crew chief) Mike (Ford) was going to know more things about me than what he did last year.
“That’s what was so exciting about being competitive and contending for wins last year. I knew I was not nearly to my potential as a driver. So that was kind of a big confidence booster coming into this year. I knew I was a better driver and that we were running better. I think it’s just going to continue to improve over the next few years.”
However, not everything has been rosy for Denny Hamlin this season. Following the race at Darlington, Denny Hamlin was extremely critical of his crew after a mishap on pit road cost him a victory. He wound up finishing second to Jeff Gordon despite leading 178 of 367 laps.
Days later, Gibbs Racing made several personnel changes to the crew.
“I was right out of the car. I was angry. I’m not too sure I’d take it back,” Denny Hamlin said when asked if he regretted his comments. “I know my team. They really use that stuff as motivation. I think my team is stronger now than what they ever have been.”
Denny Hamlin quickly points out that no crew members were fired; people were simply reassigned. He also said that changes had been discussed for a while and felt it was the right time to make them.
“Things are already looking up,” Denny Hamlin said. “The guys are still patting me on the back and saying that they’re going to get a win for me soon. And I hope I can get one for them. This is a team deal. We’re going to win them together and we’re going to lose them together.”
That elusive victory could come this weekend at Pocono, especially since Denny Hamlin said the team is planning to use the same car and setup that dominated there a year ago.
When Denny Hamlin swept both Pocono races last season, he became the six driver in track history to accomplish the feat. If he wins Sunday, he would join Bobby Allison (1982-83) and the late Tim Richmond (1986-87) as the only drivers to win three consecutive races at Pocono.
“That would be a huge deal for me,” Denny Hamlin said. “To be in that group of names kind of makes me feel like I’m a fish out of water. I don’t really feel like I belong with those guys in this course of my career. It’d be an honor, and I think we probably have a good shot at it.”
