Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
HAMLIN HAS EYE ON ELITE COMPANY
Two-time Daytona winner has 3rd victory, repeat in sights
DAYTONA BEACH —The finish line was in sight, but Denny Hamlin faced plenty of danger ahead.
Few are more confident with a steering wheel in their hands, a blur of black asphalt underneath and the competition bearing down from behind.
But earlier this week, with Michael Jordan looking on, Hamlin was a bit out of his element. Standing on the 18th green of Jordan’s new course — Grove XXIII in Hobe Sound — Hamlin stared down a par-saving putt before sinking it to avoid losing big bucks to Rickie Fowler. Talk about pressure. “Thank goodness, that got me back square,” Hamlin said. “So that was a lot of fun.”
This is how the reigning Daytona 500 champion relaxes.
While other NASCAR drivers spend their offseason testing their cars, gladhanding sponsors, shaking up their race teams or driving in other series, Hamlin pals around with NBA legends and PGA Tour stars.
“It’s my way of unwinding,” the 39-year-old said.
Hamlin always has been one to milk the most out of one of the shortest offseasons in sports.
Hanging out at his 31,000-square-foot estate on North Carolina’s Lake Norman, Hamlin has created the ultimate man cave, complete with a bowling alley, indoor basketball court, state-of-the-art gym and golf simulator.
A season ticket-holder courtside for Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets, Hamlin met cheerleader Jordan Fish and now has two daughters with her. Embracing the role of “Girl Dad,” Hamlin brings his older daughter, Taylor, to races, where the 7-year-old already has developed a gift for getting in front of the camera to interview Hamlin’s fellow drivers.
Getting out of his No. 11 Toyota and away from the sport keeps Hamlin engaged and energized after 14 seasons in the Cup Series.
“Each person finds their own way to motivate them to keep doing this because this is not an easy thing to do, week in and week out,” he said.
Hamlin’s lifestyle and unique approach clearly works. He returned to full-time racing this week at Daytona International Speedway on the short list of favorites Sunday as he looks to become the first repeat winner of the Daytona 500 since Sterling Marlin in 1994 and 1995.
At the same time, Hamlin’s two victories the past four years show the lengths it can take to win the Great American Race. His 2016 win was the closest ever, while his 2019 victory was one of the most inspired — dedicated to J.D. Gibbs, the late son of Hamlin team owner Joe Gibbs. J.D. served as team president before his death at 49 and two decades ago gave a cocksure, talented Hamlin his shot at racing.
“It’s very hard — I don’t go into these Daytona 500s expecting to win,” Hamlin said. “I go into it hoping to win but definitely not expecting because there’s just too many moving parts and pieces for you to guarantee your success.”
Even so, expect Hamlin to be in the mix as Sunday evening approaches and laterace chaos abounds. With top-10 finishes in five of the past six 500s, Hamlin has become a force at Daytona International Speedway’s 2 1⁄2-mile oval after arriving to the Cup Series as a short-track specialist.
“We’ve been a factor to win every Daytona 500 it seems like for the last decade,” he said. “I come here thinking there’s no reason that should be any different.”
Hamlin’s attitude is a major shift from earlier in his career.
Hamlin posted just two top-10 finishes in 16 races during his first eight seasons at Daytona while winning 23 times overall elsewhere. To change course, Hamlin began to study the success of Joe Gibbs teammate Tony Stewart and superspeedway master Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hamlin said he asked himself, “Why do Tony Stewart and Dale [Earnhardt] Jr. continue to be up front in these races, and I’m continuing to be in the garage or in the infield care center? There’s something not right.”
A single-digit handicap in golf who runs a basketball league among drivers, Hamlin is one of the sport’s most talented athletes and fiercest competitors. In time, he became one of its most complete drivers.
“His talent level’s not disputable,” 23-year-old teammate Erik Jones marveled. “The way he’s developed as a driver has been impressive over the last 15 years or so of his career. Denny has really put himself back on top of the sport.”
If Hamlin builds on his rebirth in 2019, it could go down as one of NASCAR’s most impressive second acts. Hamlin followed his first winless season since he joined the Cup Series in 2006 with a six-win campaign, giving him 37 in his career to trail only Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick among active drivers.
Hamlin would like to kick off a new decade with No. 38 and join Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Dale Jarrett as the only threetime winners of the Daytona 500.