Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin says he can dethrone Jimmie Johnson

By Jeff Gluck - Associate Editor
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin finished the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season with a career-high four victories. (David Griffin / NASCAR Scene)

Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin finished the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season with a career-high four victories.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

Like a bullet train screaming down the tracks, Jimmie Johnson has met little resistance from his competitors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Try as they might, no one seems ready to take on Johnson and the No. 48 team. Johnson has no real rivals and has out-performed everyone to the extent that his most serious threat this season finished 141 points behind.

With all the momentum that a dominating four-year stretch of championships has brought, few drivers appear ready to knock Johnson from his perch atop the NASCAR world.

Enter Denny Hamlin.

Hamlin, the 29-year-old Virginian, proclaimed his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team ready to dethrone Johnson. Soon.

“We can, for sure,” he said. “Our team can do it.”

Those words weren’t spoken in some moment of bravado after Hamlin won the season finale at Homestead. Hamlin said them prior to the Texas race, just before he ended the season by finishing second, third and first in the final three races of the Chase For The Sprint Cup.

In victory lane at Homestead, Hamlin had only grown more confident.

“I promise you, the next couple of years we’re going to win a championship,” he said.

Where did this Hamlin come from? He spoke like a man who knows something everyone else doesn’t, not like a guy trying to convince himself with false hope.

His brief journey in NASCAR has already had its ups and downs.

Hamlin finished third in points in his first full Cup season and looked like the sport’s next phenom, but he fell to 12th and eighth the next two years. Entering 2009, he had underachieved by his initial standards, with just four Cup victories to his credit.

The first half of this year seemed like more of the same – consistent results and top-10 finishes but nothing spectacular.

Then, over the final 16 races of the season, something clicked. Beginning at the second Pocono race, he won four times – as many as Johnson during that stretch – and had nine top-five finishes, which were two more than Johnson had.

Just like that, Hamlin won as many races in 16 weeks as he had during his entire Cup career.

So it’s no wonder that Hamlin is serious about being the No. 1 contender to end the Johnson Supremacy.

“I think this Chase has just made us stronger, because now I think everyone is focused and everyone is fired up about next year, knowing that we're one of the few guys that can run with that 48 every single week,” Hamlin said.

No one else has even dared to speak those words. Perhaps it’s because they can’t back them up. Even if Hamlin can, Johnson’s teammate Jeff Gordon wasn’t sure it was wise to make statements challenging the 48 team.

“I think Denny is a really solid driver – I hope he's not putting too much pressure on himself by saying that,” Gordon said. “I'm always big on ‘Actions speak louder than words,’ so I certainly wouldn't go about saying that. But good for him.”

Hamlin put himself on the contenders’ radar this season by declaring after his Richmond victory just prior to the Chase that he was perhaps the driver to beat. It didn’t work out that way, thanks to two engine failures and a crash in California, but the rest of the performances were encouraging.

“In years past, it’s always been, ‘Well, we’ve just been outperformed by those guys each and every week of the Chase,’” Hamlin said. “This Chase, I don’t feel like that is the case. I’m more optimistic about next year than I am sorry for myself about this year.”

Hamlin even went so far as to predict next year would be his winningest season yet, apparently unafraid that other drivers have been burned by such statements.

“If we get our mechanical stuff figured out, if I don’t win five or six races next year, I’ll be pretty disappointed,” he said.

So is Hamlin nuts or is he onto something?

Crew chief Mike Ford shared the optimism that next year could be something big.

“I think if you look back, we've been toe to toe with [Johnson] every Chase race other than Dover,” when the team missed the setup, Ford said.

Part of the change has to do with Hamlin’s increased leadership role in the team since Tony Stewart left JGR to head his own organization. Hamlin committed himself to taking control – working on his physical fitness, asking the team to build cars more to his liking, telling owner Joe Gibbs that “mandatory meetings” about competition should be enacted.

“There’s things we need to do to make our team better, and we’re going to start taking those steps as soon as the season is over,” Hamlin said. “I’m going to be in that shop. I’m going to be talking about things we need to work on constantly for next season.

“That's what got us to this point, is having our meetings and figuring out what we need to work on and getting all of the drivers on the same page and crew chiefs on the same page. … Now we’ve got to do that in the offseason, because that’s when you need to make your biggest jumps.”

All that being said, Johnson’s average Chase finish in the nine races where he didn’t have trouble was 3.3; Hamlin, in the seven races in which he did not have problems, had an average result of 5.1.

So maybe it’s not time for Johnson to start shaking in his seat just yet.

But if Hamlin has his way, Johnson should at least take a peek in his rear-view mirror.

Comments

59 responses to "Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin says he can dethrone Jimmie Johnson". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Anonymous said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 10:08 AM

    He couldn't dethrown your his Grandmother! What a big ego.. Brad Keselowski isn't finished with him yet !!

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  2. 2
    asanchez008 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    I believe Denny, he would have won more races had it not been for mechanical failures. Seriously, why the hell does he keep getting those failures every time he is contending for wins. It's like the racing gods have a personal vendetta against Hamlin.

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  3. 3
    aud-fink said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    Watch for him, he's coming. Denny is focused on next year. I think a serious racecar driver should make the incentive to do exactly what Denny is doing. If you want wins, you have to be a winning team...right down to the mind set of every team member and all the small details. I know, my family are racers and every detail is important to gaining success. It's not easy. In any kind of racing, drivers want to win, that's why they are out there every single week, to get better, to finish well, and to hopefully win. With that being said, Go DENNY 2010!

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  4. 4
    barbf03773 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 10:16 AM

    In his dreams! He is almost as big a whiner as the shrub! They both can wreck whoever they want and that's OK, but if anyone touches them they head to their haulers crying. What a baby. Jimmie isn't my favorite driver, but Hamlin will never be half the driver he is.

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  5. 5
    DRLDeBoer said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 10:54 AM

    Denny was my dark horse 2009 Cup pick, because I finally saw real change in him this year (been good naturedly busting him since he was a rookie) He wasn't being a "basket case" anymore about stuff going wrong. If his equipment had held up as well as HMS, and he hadn't made that 1 bonehead mistake in CA, I think he would've been right up there within point striking distance. Here's to a Gibbs 2010 Revolution. Oh, and who knew a Toyota could win Homestead??

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  6. 6
    juniegirl said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 10:56 AM

    Johnson will chew Hamlin up and spit him out. He can't possibly think he's even in the same realm.

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  7. 7
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 11:05 AM

    Dream on Hamlin. If by thinking winning the last race is a indication of winning the chase think again. If Johnson had to win the last race he would have.

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  8. 8
    gwen_susie388 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 11:08 AM

    Hamlin is his own biggest fan. He has patted himself on the back so much, but I guess someone needs to. He seems to usually have a fast car (in cup) but he loves to run over people. Yes, son that will help you dethrone Jimmie. I believe in being optimistic but he will have to learn self control and respect for other drivers and earn their respect for him before he can win a Championship Title. But we know he is a, "Man of his word" because he made good on his, "Man of his word threat" to wreck someone or tried to wreck him. As Pops said he didn't do it good enough again. Montoya lost two spots in the chase because he also likes to run over people and has no self control or respect for or from other drivers. Denny will keep that up until he meets up with someone like Montoya just to name one driver. It's time someone new get's a Championship Title so go for it Denny!

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  9. 9
    b48orr said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 12:22 PM

    What world does Dimmy live in. Not the one everyone else does. He is totally incapable of winning a championship. He can't focus on every race, the whole race, an entire season. I bet he doesnt even make the chase next year. Where is he on weeks when he isnt racing in Virginia or really fired up like he was about B.K.? No focus and no self control thats Dimmy in a nutshell. Everyone I know despises this fruitcake. He needs a shrink! Child please! 4 years and he thinks he is the old pro. Dimmy go shred your transmission, run someone over, miss a gear and blow your motor and win a couple races. This is the real you. Dont you get it? Be true to yourself, its the first step to recovery from your problems.

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  10. 10
    b48orr said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 12:24 PM

    DImmy could not even carry Jimmie's steering wheel. What a clown!!

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  11. 11
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 12:33 PM

    The funny thing about Hamilin is he gets involved with drivers in the NW series. He talks a good story, but he will never produce on the track. Johnson has won 4 in a row because he doesn't read a word about Nascar, rumors, or anything. He is focused on one thing and one thing only.

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  12. 12
    karnevil9 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 12:40 PM

    Who knows what the 2010 season will bring, but making those kind of statements was probably not the smartest move.

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  13. 13
    aud-fink said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    Denny can carry Dimmy Johnson's steering wheel. CAN! And something else he can do is just what he's doing now, thinking positive. His fans will stick by his side. Denny should pat himself on the back, he ran well this year, just some bad luck is all. He'll do even better next year. Can't wait! You all are such bitter people towards Denny. Dry it up and watch him blow JJ's doors off next year.

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  14. 14
    tampabbay99 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 1:58 PM

    Dream on Denny. He is a good driver but not good enough to overtake the best. Not to mention he is a whiny little biitch.

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  15. 15
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 3:37 PM

    #13 He has had 4 years to blow the doors off JJ and if he thinks he can do it, just wait till next year and we will all see.

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  16. 16
    tgeer said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    Hamlin who? If they boy thinks he is anywhere compare to Jimmy Johnson and Chad Knause, he better wake up quick. Not that I can stand Jimmie or Chad myself.

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  17. 17
    trtruckin said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 4:18 PM

    Most everyone that brags about performance looses it. Remember how hot Steward was at mid season and he said basically the same thing and whamo, away he went. Only one driver can predict his performance for next year and unfortunetly it's Jimmy Johnson. I don't cheer for him but the man has it together and will for some time. Besides these feelings, I, like many other fans aren't ready for a Toyota to win a Championship. So Denny, keep running your mouth and give Johnson and Crew even more incentative.....Your doomed to more failures and you have little respect from ohters in the garage, and without that respect you can't be a Champion......

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  18. 18
    amalycke said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    For the first time ever, I have to side with Denny Hamlin here and agree. He's got 4 wins this season and CASE OF BIPLOAR!!! PUT HIM BACK ON SEROQUEL 400 XR!!!

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  19. 19
    jerryswiatek said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 4:36 PM

    WOW, he found one more track besides Pocono that gave him a win and now he's a champion, First if he thinks that Keselowski is done with him he's nuts. He could start by making some friends.

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  20. 20
    whizkid2b2 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 4:37 PM

    Every Driver has the ability to "make things
    better" And I hope this year Many of the other Drivers will take seriously what is involved in being a champion. 110% 100% of the time. Its not standing around whining and bad mouthing the crew the car or the other drivers. Its time. They all have seen what the 48 team can do. They need to figure it out Boys !!
    As far as Hamlins remark. Well... I suppose he can click his heels together and wish. But He is gonna have to work a lot harder and smarter this year. The bulls-eye is now pretty big on his back. Its not just J.J. he needs to set his sights on. You can believe Mark Martin, J.Gordon, Stewart, Edwards, the B.Brothers all got the same desire. They all wanna get JJ this year. Maybe It will be show on the tracks this coming year.

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  21. 21
    rwilliamhayes said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 4:55 PM

    Fle this under "Talk is cheap hamburger"

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  22. 22
    pjgreene105 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 4:59 PM

    denny(brat)hamlin is #3 driver at jgr soon to be #4

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  23. 23
    SheilaLovesNASCAR said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM

    Joe Gibbs Racing has three very good Nationwide drivers. The races are shorter. And the competition isn't as fierce. And until Denny can get that enforcer thing out of his head, he will never win anything. He'll be too focused on who has done wrong to whom. You won't win a Championship by teaching others lessons. I like Denny. But he's no match for Jimmy. Jimmy is focused.

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  24. 24
    kylestewart said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM

    Danny can and will be a force next year. He keeps getting better every year. i guess none of you non-sayers didn't read the article at all.
    hey gwen you talk about denny running people over but didn't jenny do that to him to win a race?
    alot of you on here think that jenny is a god but she isn't. he has the best cc and the best equip. put him somewhere else and she wouldn't have won 4 champs.
    and talk about whining. all i heard on sunday was jenny crying because people were racing too close to her.

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  25. 25
    Mtclimber said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 5:29 PM

    I'm for anyone who will even talk about giving Jimmie a run. I'm tired of the 48, impressed yes, tired more! NASCAR better have drivers running it or the fan base will fall off even more with domination like the 48 TEAM. Stop the mad typing in responce Jimmie fans, he's the bomb, but Lord Have Mercy, it's getting boring watching. Hendrick is like the Yankees and I'm a huge 24 fan, but Jimmie and the 48 are BORING. Go any team that will make it interesting.

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  26. 26
    pj88 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM

    You must have meant Denny when you said Jenny,I see how you could have hit the wrong key.Denny can drive ok,but he lets his mouth get in the way.If he can;t handle Brad then how can he handle the cup drivers an entire season.Oh Denny,you said nobody likes brad,he was voted MPD this year and he has enough sense to know if you have a flat to get off the track,not stop at the top like a fool and get a caution.

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  27. 27
    marko said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 5:39 PM

    If most of you would look at the performance of the 11 and look at the facts on quailty passes, driver rating and others stats posted by Nascar.com you would see that the 11 team and Denny are just as good as JJ, what hurts them is the don't have the full package quite yet, if you look back at the 10 chase race and the other race through out the year there performance's at track they struggled have improved. This is a team that is very dangerous and will be contenders in 2010 and will have a shot at dethroneing JJ and the 48. As far a Kelesoki I think he really as fixed the problem himself and will struggle to keep the 12 car in the top 25. Funny how everyone loved that kid when he was with JR Motorsports and will be hardly even known next year. I would bet the 11 would be there next year it took Jimmie and Chad to there 5th season to figure it out and Mike and Denny will be entering there 5th season. Not to mention that others will be coming too JJ and Chad will have big targets on there back and i think they go down next year not to say the 11 will be champion but i will say there will be new blood in 2010.

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  28. 28
    rogersnwt said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM

    Denny's gonna have to lose the 'deer in the headlights' look to gain more credibility in my book. Also, Kyle might have something to say about this....

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  29. 29
    alisoeddie said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 6:08 PM

    Attn. Jr/Kesolowski fans:
    Denny has more talent in his left foot than both of your boys have in their right .A proven winner who's led laps and run up front in both the COT and the old car since he was a rookie.
    Jr. cant drive the new car,and no matter how much he whines about it,it ain't goin' away anytime soon.
    So get on board the JGR/Denny bandwagon.Denny's a good guy with a lot of heart and unlike Jr. he ain't no quitter.

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  30. 30
    dale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 6:31 PM

    lmao you havnt really shown that you can as a matter fact no one has not even mark so i dont think so unless jimmie has some bad runs but then youd have too battle mark,jeff,tony,kurt for it yea are you really up for that only time will tell i guess

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  31. 31
    JGRFan4Life said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 6:32 PM

    Actually, if some of you cared to look at this unbiased, there is good case to be made for Hamlin. Yes, he had some bad finishes in the Chase, but he was running up front even during those races. He was one of the best in the Chase, and honestly throughout the year. I would say you have to include Hamlin as one of the best threats to dethrone Johnson in 2010.

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  32. 32
    dale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 6:42 PM

    #29 lmao thats funny!

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  33. 33
    MAMADONIA88 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 6:45 PM

    Denny Hamlin is so stuck on himself it is outrageous. He couldn't dethrone anybody. I wonder what he had to say when Brad won the most popular vote in Nationwide, Denny never won anything except maybe a couple of races and he wouldn't be where he is now if Dale Jr. hadn't got his job for him. GO BRAD!!!!!

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  34. 34
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:04 PM

    #31 Admit there is a problem at JGR. It presents itself during the year and in the chase. Besides the drive and park cars which teams besides MWR had the most DNF's? I'm thinking it JGR. If not JGR it has to be RBR.

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  35. 35
    crusher1 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:06 PM

    FROM A FAN FOREVER. Denny I hope that you can backup your statement about taking on J.J. for the Chase Cup. I myself think that you can do it, you are a proven winner, but you need to get the monkey off of your back down the stretch. Without that bad luck I think that you can do it. I HOPE TO SEE YOU HOISTING THE CUP IN 2010 AT HOMESTEAD. Go DENNY.

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  36. 36
    arttidesco said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:09 PM

    Denny is certainly a great talent but he is way too much mouth to be a Championship contender and his NNW performance convinced me of that more than ever.

    Dangerous Denny can run good but I don't ever see him out running the #48 over the last 10 races of the season even with the 'curse of Rick Mast' now running against the #48 :-)

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  37. 37
    blachley said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:10 PM

    You should remember what the old ZinMaster said, "WELL SEE" which on of you self proclaimed experts are correct, remembering what an expert is. ( x is a has been and spirt is a drip of water)

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  38. 38
    Spacemaker24 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:25 PM

    Actions speak larger than words Mr. Hamlins. Show us, don't tell us.

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  39. 39
    bajafishin said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:44 PM

    Keep dreaming Denny

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  40. 40
    bajafishin said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:48 PM

    #24. Did you happen to watch the Nationwide race on Sat. Your girly driver was doing the same thing to Burton. But I suppose he can do it because he wants to win more than anyone out there and he is the greatest driver in the history of NASDAE right.

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  41. 41
    JGRFan4Life said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:51 PM

    #34, despite your hate, there is no reason to believe there is a problem at JGR. Every team has problems, I don't care who you are. You want to look at a team that had problems, look at RCR, not JGR. JGR is one of the top teams in Cup with a star in the waiting (Logano) as well as two very dangerous contenders (Hamlin & Busch).

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  42. 42
    dale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    now i can see busch as a contender even tho he didnt get into the chase this year but dennys team needs too work on their mishaps some bad luck driver error and team error has cost him if he can get that problem fixed i see him as a contender but unfortunatly unless everybody cathes up on their programs including the other hendrick teams no one will beat out the jimmie parade right now idk who could there just that dominate

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  43. 43
    dale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    now i can see busch as a contender even tho he didnt get into the chase this year but dennys team needs too work on their mishaps some bad luck driver error and team error has cost him if he can get that problem fixed i see him as a contender but unfortunatly unless everybody cathes up on their programs including the other hendrick teams no one will beat out the jimmie parade right now idk who could there just that dominate

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  44. 44
    dale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 8:45 PM

    rightnow i only see one contender too dethrone jimmie and the 48 team and that isssss well jimmie if bad luck and error plauge him we might have a different championship i believe even tho the season hasnt started its jimmie's championship too lose and i cant wait for dale too make a 2010 comeback if kurt can do it hell jr can too

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  45. 45
    wmvjr1960 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 10:51 PM

    Live up to your own hype. Then maybe.

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  46. 46
    buckshot88 said:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 11:50 PM

    Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch better look over thier shoulder at that kid joey logano,he's the natural in the gibbs camp! in the future if anyone is going to unseat jimmie johnson i would pick logano hands down!

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  47. 47
    jbbigrod said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 1:23 AM

    Hey number 33, the ONLY reason Krashlouski got the most popular driver vote is he drives for Jr. and got the Jr Nation vote. NO other reason. Among the REST of the fans, he is the worst. . . . . And as far as Denny goes, I have always liked him, though I am not a fan of his per se`. I only WANT to see either Carl or Mark win it next year. And I think BOTH of them are very capable of doing it. BUT we will have to wait and see, won't we?

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  48. 48
    aud-fink said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 5:54 AM

    I Like comment #29. And to #36..hahaha...Denny totally outran Johnson and Martin in Charlotte...only the car failure cost him that race. Jimmy qualified fastest, Martin...2nd fastest...Denny was 3rd fastest and caught them both and passed them and left them and led quite a few laps (untouched). Yes he did! Denny ran like a scalded dog, baby! He CAN and WILL outrun them again next year. (minus the car failure)Go Denny 2010!!!!

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  49. 49
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 7:59 AM

    #41 As usual you use the word hate, but you failed to answer the question. No doubt Joey is going to be the best racer in the Gibbs camp. Like it or not he has a brain which the other two are missing. DNF was the question, not how RCR did. If you wish to mention RCR I hope you took note of their late season improvement.

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  50. 50
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 8:00 AM

    #48 In Charlotte, Johnson had the fastest practice speed, the fastest qualifying speed, lead the most laps, and won the race. Hamlin who?

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  51. 51
    kylestewart said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 10:28 AM

    #34 HMS had more dnf's this year than JGR 8-7.
    penske had 14
    rbr 10
    as far as your remark about brains maybe instead of thinking you know who has more dnf's why don't you look it up first.
    anyways, i'll take the three JGR drivers over at least half of the HMS drivers. i'd take all of them over the RCR drivers and the EGR drivers.

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  52. 52
    aud-fink said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 12:41 PM

    Like I said, CHEVELLE, Denny's car failed. If it had not, they couldn't have touched him. Maybe you didn't watch that race. Denny is definatly a threat to JJ's 4 win streak in 2010. I know, I know....Johnson won the race...was the fastest...lead the most laps...but the truth is.. Denny was fast as greased lightning, caught the leaders and passed them untill the car went to hell. Quit being such a sore winner.

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  53. 53
    skipster_47 said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 1:39 PM

    Denny, I wasn't a fan of yours, however after listening to your comments after the race on Saturday, I disliked you even more. You said, you had to take action because your dad told you to be a man of your word. And that you had to teach Brad to respect you. Well your dad should have taught you that you don't get respect by trying to knock people around, you EARN respect. I even lost respect for JD Gibbs after his comments. Besides Denny your not man enough to carry Brads jock-strip.

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  54. 54
    novara48 said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 2:37 PM

    What a clown!! So now Denny is TELLING Joe, J.D. and everyone else what they NEED to do so HE can win a championship? You've got to be kidding me!!! Making suggestions as to where you may be able to improve, and being a dictator are two completely different things. I don't think people are going to put up with his crap for very long.....especially when it doesn't work out for him. And just an FYI, in order to "dethrone" JJ, you are going to have to go over and above the things he's already accomplished. That means, Denny, you are gonna have to avg. 6 (I rounded up from 5.8-5.9) wins per year for the next 8 years, and win at least 4 straight cups. I say that's highly unlikely. If you do manage to win a cup in the future, without surpassing JJ's benchmarks, you will be just another guy that won a cup.

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  55. 55
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 9:37 PM

    #52 I like that sore winner. It is what it is. Just because his car blew up doesn't mean he was going to win the race, that's all conjecture. What Jimmie Johnson does is block out every driver, every statement made, every article, every CC, and concentrates on one thing and one thing only winning the Championship, as does Chad. In 8 years the worst he has finished in the chase is 5th. His record will never be broken unless he wins his 5th in a row next year. If you remember when the season started it was to be the Kyle and Carl chase, well that didn't pan out well.

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  56. 56
    austinh said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 9:39 PM

    Dummy Hamlin is to infatuated with Brad Keselowski to put much thought into a cup championship.Just in case you have not figured it out that 48 team pretty much CONTROLS ITS OWN DESTINEY i really dont know or care where Dummy Hamlin is catching his thoughts from but hes in for a terrible let down next fall and will probably be on suicide watch apparently a few of his fans missed some races or maybe they just have selective memory the same as him.Have a nice day.

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  57. 57
    br0412 said:
    Nov 25, 2009 at 10:56 PM

    I liked Denny until he started acting like cry baby Kyle. They both think they are a gift to the world of raceing, no one else matters except them. They do not care about the team, Nascar, other drivers or the fans. Everyone should park and just give it to them because they are all about me,me,me. Joey is more mature than both of them put together and a much better driver.

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  58. 58
    JGRFan4Life said:
    Nov 26, 2009 at 1:33 AM

    Chevelle, I answered your question, now please, stop being a moron.

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  59. 59
    Hateda88 said:
    Dec 3, 2009 at 1:29 AM

    Go back to sleep Denny you're still dreaming. Do the math Nascar loves Jimmie. Nascar hates you. Hmmm...

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