Hamlin happy with early success

DARLINGTON — Denny Hamlin isn’t worried about peaking too early.

He’s just worried about winning races.

Before the season, Hamlin said the plan for the team was to build momentum and start peaking right after Indianapolis in July. But with three wins — including Saturday night’s Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington — in his last six races, things have changed.

“We didn’t expect to have the success. We thought we could contend for race wins, maybe get one here or there the first 12,” Hamlin said. “We really wanted to come on right after Indy. Our goal was to turn the light switch on and really go for it.

“We’ll see what happens. I think that it’s very encouraging for me that we’re winning right now under the circumstances.”

Hamlin’s success lately has even caught his crew chief Mike Ford off guard.

“Honestly, I’m surprised how strong we are right now,” he said. “Not to spill the beans, but we’re working on Chase stuff right now. We’re racing things that we were racing at the end of last year so we can concentrate on the later months of this year.”

Hamlin was tabbed by many as the preseason favorite to dethrone Jimmie Johnson’s bid for five straight championships. It might come true, especially with Johnson’s struggles lately.

The four-time champion had his third DNF Saturday.

“I’m sure there’s no cause for panic on their side. For us, we’re just winning races. That’s all I can say,” said Hamlin, who has moved up to sixth in Sprint Cup points.

Hamlin struggled to start the season and tore his ACL playing basketball March. Hamlin won that week at Martinsville and had surgery a week later.

After surgery, Hamlin drove at Phoenix and hasn’t looked back.

Hamlin said he never thought of just starting a race and letting a relief driver finish it.

“Good decision or bad decision, in my head, it was the only decision,” Hamlin said. “There’s been many times my guys have gone over and beyond for me in certain situations and stuck up for me. If I tell them they did a crappy job, they still didn’t care. They patted me on the back and we went on to next week.

“I felt like it was important for me to step up and do the same for them. It’s paid off. People don’t believe it, but it’s paid off. We have those good pit stops at the end. Is it coincidence? Maybe. But I can tell you our team is hitting its stride. Everyone is getting along as good as they ever have.”

By staying in the car, Hamlin gained even more respect from those on his race team.

“He went up a few notches in my eyes, the mental toughness,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of Gibbs Racing.

The toughness Hamlin has shown is the kind of grittiness displayed by other drivers who have won at Darlington. Hamlin said Saturday’s win had extra special meaning, especially with the tradition that winning at Darlington carries. He remembered watching Bill Elliott win the Winston Million on television in 1985.

“I was five years old, but he was my driver, he was my guy. I’ll never forget that, him winning that here at Darlington,” Hamlin said. “For us to have a similar situation, it was as big for me now as what it probably was for him back then.”

Stewart looking for new sponsor
Tony Stewart will be looking for a new sponsor at the end of the season, the Charlotte Observer reported Sunday.

The paper reported Old Spice will not renew its sponsorship with Stewart when the current deal expires at the end of the year.

Old Spice has been a sponsor with Stewart for the last 11 years and was the primary sponsor for 14 races this season.