Hamlin Embracing Newfound Celebrity

RICHMOND, Va. - Three years ago, Denny Hamlin was a regular driver at local tracks with designs on becoming the next Virginia resident to make an impact in NASCAR's top series.

Now, he's an emerging star in the Sprint Cup Series.

In a weekend he described as "perfect" even before he started from the pole in Saturday night's Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Hamlin kicked off the Denny Hamlin Foundation at Southside Speedway on Thursday night, raising $50,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, won the Sprint Cup pole and won Friday's night's Nationwide Series event.

His growing celebrity, Hamlin said, has opened his eyes to opportunities to use that notoriety to help others. Hospital visits have shown him how much it helps sick children.

"When you get to go there and see first-hand either the struggles or the success stories of these kids, it definitely gives you a need to give back and now that I have the chance to do that, it's no better time to start it than now," he said a few hours before the race.

"Ultimately it gives you a great feeling, and it's the right thing to do."

Hamlin presented an oversized check to the CF Foundation on Saturday.

BURNT OUT: Mark Martin has never been one to mince words, and he seems even less inclined to worry about ruffling feathers now that he's only racing part time.

Take the topic of burnouts for example, that moment after a victory when many drivers smoke their tires so much that the car is enveloped in a cloud to the delight of fans.

"I think they're real juvenile," Martin said. "It's disrespectful to the equipment, but it makes good TV. ... If I did a burnout, I would wreck, so I'm not going to do it."

Martin said the closest he's come was when his car slid onto the grass at Lowe's Motor Speedway after he won the Coca-Cola 600. The car slid across the Coke logo in the grass.

"That was a stretch for me," he said. "I'll just collect the hardware. I'd rather take the checkered flag and hurry on to Victory Lane and get there so I can start enjoying it."

Many drivers, however, don't share Martin's view.

Humpy Wheeler, president of the track in Charlotte, N.C., has added a burnout competition to the activities associated with the All-Star race at his track on May 17. Competitors will spin their tires, do two doughnuts and then spin into Victory Lane.

ETC.: Jeff Burton entered Saturday night's race as the only driver to have completed all 2,887 laps run in the first nine races this season.

The Associated Press