Denny Hamlin wants to deliver on promise to coach Gibbs

DORAL, Fla. – Denny Hamlin can remember every detail from his first meeting with Joe Gibbs.

It was 1992 – Hamlin was 11 or 12 – and Gibbs came to the Richmond, Va., area to sign autographs. Gibbs had just won the Super Bowl for the third time with the Washington Redskins, and Hamlin was a "huge fan" of both the team and the coach.

So Hamlin stood in line with his family for more than two hours ("He's the slowest autograph because he wants to tell every story," Hamlin said) and finally got his chance to meet the man who would eventually bring him from racing obscurity into the big time at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Hamlin, of course, knew it all along.

"I thought it was awesome that my favorite football coach is starting a race team, this is perfect and this is ideal for me," Hamlin said. "I told him, 'Mr. Gibbs, I just started racing go-karts and I'd really like to drive for you one day and I'd love to win a championship for you.' He's like, 'OK, son.' "

Hamlin left with an autographed hat, but no promise of a ride. Twenty-two years later, though, Hamlin has a chance to deliver on those words Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he'll enter the race tied with three other drivers for the points lead.

This won't be Hamlin's first chance to win a title for Gibbs, though. He came into Homestead in 2010 with the points lead and coughed it up to Jimmie Johnson – mostly of his own doing.

Hamlin said he was doomed from the start that weekend. He let the hype and the pressure of the moment get to him, and he folded.

"I didn't do anything at night (before the race), locked myself in the motorhome, didn't want anyone coming in," he said. "Just wanted to focus on what I needed to do. But that wasn't what got me to that point -- it was being myself and having my friends and family around -- playing cards before driver intros, whatever it took to loosen me up. That's what I did for 35 races and I changed that for one race."

Hamlin, who had a 15-point lead on Johnson coming into the finale at this 1.5-mile track, spun on a restart on lap 22, damaging his car. He worked his way back up to finish 14th. Meanwhile, Johnson was second and took the crown.

Gibbs said Hamlin's 2010 loss was "absolutely devastating for him" and can remember when the two walked out of the media center following the post-race interviews that night.

"He turned to me and he made a comment like, 'I cost us that championship,' " Gibbs said. "I said, 'Denny, you got us here.' But it was truly devastating for him."

This time, Hamlin promised to take a more relaxed approach. He plans to celebrate his upcoming 34th birthday (Nov. 18) with a dinner Saturday night and a trip on a friend's boat.

He'll be surrounded by friends and family who don't like talking about racing, but instead debating who will win a football game or who just got beaten on the golf course (Hamlin played 18 holes at Trump National Doral on Thursday).

"That to me puts my mind at ease and doesn't make me think about racing," he said. "I'm better off when I take a little break from racing now and then."

Maturity, experience and some therapy from a sports psychologist have helped his attitude four years after the loss.

"It is exciting, but it's not going to overwhelm me and it's not going to define me in my career," he said. "I feel like I've grown so much as a person over the last couple years that I see a bigger perspective in life than having to sell my soul to go win a Cup championship."

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