Denny Hamlin’s 2011 season in Sprint Cup was disappointing at best: he followed up his runner-up finish in the 2010 Chase by barely making it into the 2011 Chase, making it in as a wild card based on his one win at Michigan. Hamlin finished the season ninth in points, but Hamlin was merely a shell of his former self on the track.
Off the track, Hamlin revealed he was seeing a sports psychologist, Bob Rotella, during the season; Rotella has worked with a number of PGA golfers in the past, and worked with Hamlin on his attitude and outlook. Rotella was referred to Hamlin by team owner Joe Gibbs.
On track, Hamlin could muster up only one win and 14 top 10 finishes in 2011, the worst results of his six-year full-time career. Changes to the #11 FexEx Toyota team were made shortly after the season ended, with the release of crew chief Mike Ford and the hiring of 2011 championship-winning crew chief Darian Grubb; Grubb will be only the second crew chief Hamlin has had in the Cup Series.
2011 stats:
- One win (Michigan – June race)
- Five Top fives
- 14 top 10s
- No poles
- Average starting position – 17.1
- Average finish – 16.0
Find out more about Hamlin at joegibbsracing.com and www.dennyhamlin.com.
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