Denny Hamlin caught NASCAR by surprise last season, quietly winning two races and finishing third in the standings, the first rookie to make the Chase for the championship.
This year, he has spoken out to force pit crew changes, refused to back down to teammate Tony Stewart and proclaimed himself a title contender. He has also spent nine weeks running second to Jeff Gordon in the points standings.
“The very first year, you are trying to gain a lot of friends and be respectful,” Hamlin said. “And I definitely still am, but this year I just feel a lot more comfortable. Being in the Chase and understanding how it works, I definitely feel a lot more secure.”
Although Hamlin opens the Chase today at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon seeded sixth in the standings, he’s feeling the pressure of a favorite. There are big hopes after a sophomore season in which he won once – on this track in July – and had 15 top-10 finishes.
“Last year we were just happy to be in it, and anything after that was going to be a bonus,” Hamlin said. “This year, it’s a little more stressful because we go into it knowing that we’re capable of winning the Chase. If things go our way, I know for a fact that we can.”
The last thing crew chief Mike Ford wants is his driver fretting about the final standings.
“Expectations are now a little higher, and Denny is putting more weight on his shoulders to perform. I think that’s dangerous because that’s when mistakes happen,” Ford said.
Ford’s challenge is keeping the intense 26-year-old driver on an even keel and challenging him to make the next 10 weeks fun.
NASCAR Trucks: Ron Hornaday Jr. got a victory and a little breathing room in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship duel with Mike Skinner in Loudon, N.H.
It was no contest on the 1.058-mile New Hampshire International Speedway oval as the two-time series champion led 174 of the 200 laps in the New Hampshire 200 on the way to his fourth victory of the season and the 33rd of his career.
Hornaday dominated early and turned it into a runaway late in the race as runner-up Erik Darnell, Skinner and reigning series champion Todd Bodine battled for position behind him. Skinner, who wound up third, came into the race trailing Hornaday by four points and left 29 behind with seven events remaining.
NHRA: Robert Hight stole the No. 1 funny car qualifying spot away from sister-in-law Ashley Force at the NHRA O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis, Tenn.
Hight set a track record with his 4.762-second pass at 320.36 mph. Force entered the final qualifying session in the No. 1 spot after a 4.810 run at 316.38 mph.
On an ideal day for fast racing, pro stock motorcycle leader Chip Ellis was low qualifier with a 6.892, the second-quickest pass in history. Max Naylor (6.594 at 207.37 mph) earned his second pole in as many races in pro stock, while Tony Schumacher (4.564 at 313.73 mph) paced top fuel qualifying.
Formula One: Kimi Raikkonen took pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, edging teammate Felipe Massa for the first Ferrari front row of the season.
Behind the red Ferrari cars, world champion Fernando Alonso got third place on his final lap to edge overall leader and McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, setting up a close race for today in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
Today’s races
NASCAR NEXTEL CUP
Sylvania 300
Site: Loudon, N.H.
TV: 11 a.m., KMGH-7
Track: New Hampshire International Speedway (oval, 1.058 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns)
Race distance: 317 miles, 300 laps
Next race: Dover 400, Sept. 23,
Delaware
On the Net:
FORMULA ONE
Belgian Grand Prix
Site: Spa-Francorchamps.
TV: 5:30 a.m., Speed Channel
Track: Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps (road course, 4.329 miles)
Race distance: 190.476 miles, 44 laps
Next race: Japanese Grand Prix, Sept. 30, Suzuka.
On the Net:
NHRA
O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals
Site: Memphis, Tenn.
TV: 5 p.m. tape, ESPN2
Track: Memphis Motorsports Park
Next event: O’Reilly Fall Nationals, Sept. 23, Ennis, Texas.
On the Net:
