Denny Hamlin was only a rookie, but he truly left his mark on Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks 2006.Hamlin kicked off his 2006 rookie campaign in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series by winning the Budweiser Shootout, the electric non-points All-Star race that features the previous season’s Bud Pole winners as well as past Budweiser Shootout champs.

To celebrate his coming out victory at NASCAR’s signature track, Hamlin performed a burn out with his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet. The burn out was so powerful that the marks — two black strips — can still be seen today just a few feet ahead of the start/finish line.

“That was amazing,” Hamlin said of the burn out at the recent NASCAR Busch Series luncheon at the ESPN Club in Orlando. “I saw (the marks) during the Daytona 500. The odd thing is that it kind of looks like an 11 on the front straightaway. It was a lot of fun. I never thought I’d be in Victory Lane of Daytona so soon. Hopefully, we’ll be able to back it up (in 2007).”

Besides producing an outstanding burn out, Hamlin’s Budweiser Shootout victory gave him momentum heading into his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, where he captured two points victories, three Bud Poles, the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title and a third-place finish in the championship standings.

“There’s no bigger boost than winning the very first race of 2006,” Hamlin said. “To me, that was the most unexpected win that we had. It was an experience that I will never forget and probably my biggest win ever.”

Hamlin’s victory now gives the Chesterfield, Va., driver a lifetime pass in the Budweiser Shootout.

He’ll be among the 21 expected drivers in the 29th annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night, Feb. 10 and welcomes the additional practice and race time that comes with his starting berth.

“It means a lot,” Hamlin said. “There are a lot of things that we learn for our cars to help in the draft during the Shootout that helps us in the 500. To be able to be in it the rest of my life is a big deal.”

Tickets for the 29th annual Budweiser Shootout are available online at http://wwwracetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Bookmark to: