NASCARDenny Hamlin through the yearsUSA TODAYDenny Hamlin, born Nov. 18, 1980 in Chesterfield, Va., began his NASCAR Cup career in 2006.Andrew Weber, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin celebrates after winning his second consecutive Daytona 500 and third of his career on Feb. 17, 2020.Peter Casey, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin does a burnout on the Daytona International Speedway infield after winning the 2020 Daytona 500 in the second-closest finish in the race's history.Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin celebrates after winning the 61st annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin (11) beats Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch (18) to the checkered flag to win the 2019 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY SportsHamlin celebrates after winning the Overton's 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2017, his first Cup victory of the season.Brian Fluharty, USA TODAY SportsHamlin at Pocono Raceway in June 2017.Matthew O'Haren, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin won the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 10, 2016.Amber Searls, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin closed out the 2016 regular season with a trip to victory lane.Amber Searls, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin celebrates his win at the the Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 7, 2016.Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin won his first career Daytona 500 on Feb. 21, 2016, in one of the most thrilling finishes in the race's storied history.Peter Casey, USA TODAY SportsHamlin (11) made a bold pass of Matt Kenseth on the final lap of the 2016 Daytona 500, then beat Martin Truex Jr. (78) to the line by 0.011 seconds, the closest finish in the race's history.Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY SportsHamlin hoists the Harley J. Early Trophy in victory lane with his team, girlfriend and daughter after winning the 2016 Daytona 500.Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin (11) and Sprint Cup Series driver David Gilliland (38) during qualifying for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Hamlin won the pole.Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 9, 2014.Peter Casey, USA TODAY SportsHamlin wins the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2014.Mike Dinovo Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY SportsHamlin celebrates after winning the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin gets out of his car through a customized roof hatch during the first caution of the 2013 Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5. Brian Vickers took over driving the No. 11 Toyota in Hamlin's first race back from injury.Randy Sartin, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin, watching the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway from his pit box, missed four full races after fracturing a vertebrae in his back at Fontana, Calif.Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin during practice for the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.Andrew Weber, USA TODAY SportsSafety workers attend to Denny Hamlin after his last-lap crash at the Auto Club 400 at Fontana, Calif., on March 24, 2013. Hamlin fractured a vertebrae in his back in the crash.Jeff Gross, Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin hits the wall after colliding with Joey Logano on the final lap of the Auto Club 400 at Fontana, Calif., on March 24, 2013.Jeff Gross, Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin addresses the media during the 2013 Sprint Media Tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway in January.Sam Sharpe, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin and girlfriend Jordan Fish arrive at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series awards banquet in Las Vegas, on Nov. 30, 2012.Isaac Brekken, APDenny Hamlin does a burnout after winning the IRWIN Tools Night Race a Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 25, 2012.Andrew Weber, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin, right, looks on as he caddies for Bubba Watson during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2012 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2012.Streeter Lecka, Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin celebrates after winning the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 4, 2012.Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin, fourth from right, watches as President Barack Obama greets Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers during an event at the White House on Sept. 7, 2011. The other drivers, from left to right:Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, and Clint Bowyer.Alex Wong, Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin swept both races at Texas in 2010 and finished second in the final Sprint Cup standings to Jimmie Johnson.Todd Warshaw, Getty Images For NASCARDenny Hamlin poses with the trophy in victory lane after he won the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 19, 2010, for his 10th career Sprint Cup win.Rusty Jarrett, Getty Images For NASCARDenny Hamlin celebrates winning the Tums 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 25, 2009.Hamlin guaranteed that he would win this race after he came in second at the spring race.Steve Helber, APDenny Hamlin takes the checkered flag for the Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 on Aug. 3, 2009, marking the third time Hamlin had won at Pocono Raceway since his Cup debut.Doug Pensinger, Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin, right, looks on as he caddies for Bubba Watson during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2012 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2012.Streeter Lecka, Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin celebrates winning the Lipton Tea 250 May 2, 2008, at Richmond International Raceway, one of three Nationwide Series races Hamlin won that year.Steve Helber, APDenny Hamlin is congratulated after winning the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, 2008.Don Petersen, APDenny Hamlin made the Chase for the second consecutive year, finishing 12th in the final standings in 2007.Sam Greenwood, Getty Images For NASCARDenny Hamlin won his third career Cup race at the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway on July 1, 2007.Stew Milne, USA TODAY SportsDenny Hamlin was named the 2006 Rookie of the Year after finishing third in the final Cup standings,scoring the highest points finish for a rookie in the modern era of NASCAR.Sean Dougherty, USA TODAY SportsTeam owner J.D. Gibbs, left, sprays driver Denny Hamlin with champagne after Hamlin won his first Nextel Cup race, the Pocono 500, on June 11, 2006, at Long Pond, Pa.Terry Renna, APDenny Hamlin, right, looks on as he caddies for Bubba Watson during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2012 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2012.Streeter Lecka, Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin, right, looks on as he caddies for Bubba Watson during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2012 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2012.Streeter Lecka, Getty Images