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Denny Hamlin Visits Washington Redskins Training Camp

Ashburn, Va. ? Denny Hamlin focused on racing as a youngster but he was also a diehard Washington Redskins fan and looked up to Joe Gibbs, the Hall of Fame football coach. When Gibbs formed a NASCAR Cup team, Hamlin stood in line at a car dealership to meet and obtain autographs from Gibbs and driver Dale Jarrett.

As a youthful go-kart driver, Hamlin aspired to be a major league racer and told Gibbs that he would like to race for him down the road. ?I hope to drive for you one day,? Hamlin said and Gibbs reportedly responded, ?That will be great.? Now years later, he is my boss,? Hamlin said while visiting Gibbs and the Washington Redskins football team at the team?s training camp in Ashburn, Virginia.

Gibbs is known as a tough competitor on the football field but Hamlin said Gibbs has been easy to work with, except when he had an on-track altercation with teammate Tony Stewart a few weeks ago. ?I think he is pretty lenient on us but when Tony and I had our deal, he flew in and sat us down as teammates and said you guys need to work this out. He said, ?This is no different from the relationship between a wide receiver and a quarterback. You don?t have to like each other but you have to work together.??

Hamlin admitted his relationship with Stewart hadn?t been the greatest. ?We had a lot of issues that needed to be worked out and when we finally had something go wrong, it all came to a head. In the long-run, it has made us better teammates.?

.Upon arriving at the Redskins training facility, Hamlin was greeted by Gibbs and others. Since it was Fan Appreciation Day, several thousand football fans were on hand to see their heroes and they were surprised to meet Hamlin. Also, numerous media outlets were present and Hamlin participated in a series of interviews, including a live radio broadcast with legendary Redskins? running back John Riggins.

Hamlin, working with the Richmond International Raceway, was in the area to promote the upcoming Chevy Rock and Roll 400, the 26th and final race of the Nextel Cup regular season. ?It is real special for me to go to Richmond as it is my home track. Last year it was real special to see my car on the grid; it was my first race there. I would like to win there more than any other track.?

The Virginia native said his rise to fame and notoriety has happened so fast he hasn?t had time to reflect on it.

Although known as an oval-track racer, Hamlin is looking forward to this weekend?s Nextel Cup race on the road course at Watkins Glen International. ?Road courses are tough. The Glen is a Car of Tomorrow race, which benefits us. With road racing, you can run as hard as you like as your car doesn?t give up. Strategies and gas mileage are major factors and we go to the Glen optimistic that we can win the race.?

Being second in the all-important point standings, Hamlin exudes confidence. ?We are in a comfortable position and we are concentrating on wins and the bonus points. The Richmond race is the one we are focusing on and to get a win there before the Chase will be a confidence booster for everyone.?

On the difficult side, Hamlin indicates the upcoming race at Michigan International Speedway will be a difficult one as will the Atlanta race in late October.

Without confirming that Kyle Busch will be joining Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2008 season, Hamlin indicated he would be very pleased to have Busch as a teammate. ?Tony (Stewart) and Kyle are two of the four best talents in the garage. To have them on the same team with me will elevate our team to do better. Earlier in the year, we were outperforming the No. 20 team but now the No. 20 is stepping over us. If we get another competitive car in there, it will fuel all the teams. It will give us all a kick.?

Busch and Hamlin have been friends for a long time. ?We get along well outside the race track, and we took about our cars more as non-teammates as me and Tony do as teammates,? Hamlin stated. ?Bringing him in would be a huge benefit for all of us.?

Hamlin enjoyed his night with Gibbs and the Redskins but come the weekend, he will have to change his focus to the challenges of the 2.4-mile road course at the legendary Watkins Glen track where he will compete in Busch and Cup action.

Concurrently, Gibbs will be on the road for a Saturday evening pre-season game against the Tennessee Titans.

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