Hamlin looks for breakthrough at RIR

When Denny Hamlin arrives in Richmond, he knows he is going to be involved in a full-speed, pedal-tothe-medal, careering-through-the-corners affair.

And that's just the days leading up to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

Hamlin, a former Chesterfield County resident who now lives in Davidson, N.C., is Richmond's favorite NASCAR son. From the moment he arrives in town until someone shouts, "Gentlemen, start your engines!" Hamlin faces one question.

"When are you going to win the Richmond race?"

"I wish I had a win here so I wouldn't get that question," Hamlin said, smiling. "But if we were running 20th each time, people would ask when are you going to get a top 10?

"Everyone's expectations are higher each time we come here. We've been in position to win, and we know that."

Hamlin did not get where he is, No. 4 in the points standings, assured of a spot among the 12 drivers who will compete for the Sprint Cup points title and consistently one of the circuit's best drivers without believing in himself.

He carries that belief to the max for today's race. In seven races at RIR, Hamlin has finished among the top six on four occasions. Three of those finishes were in the top three.

"We've had cars that could have won, and that's good," he said. "There are only so many times you can be close before it happens. You put yourself in the top three or four every time you come here and lead a lot of laps, it's just a matter of time before you lead Lap 400."

That sounds as if Hamlin intends to lead Lap 400 tonight.

"Yes. I think so," he said.

Hamlin is off to a good start. He qualified third last night.

Hamlin loves his job. And he fulfills the duties of a top NASCAR driver well.

Thursday morning, he was at St. Joseph's Villa, a Richmond social service agency that assists children and families in need. St. Joseph's specializes in helping homeless, autistic and at-risk young people.

Hamlin was there for two reasons. FedEx, his primary sponsor, donated $10,000 to the Richmond branch of the American Red Cross.

And the local Red Cross chapter was there to educate the children on how to be prepared for a disaster.

Hamlin participated in a disaster-preparedness exercise with about 30 of the St. Joseph's students.

Hamlin didn't stand and watch. He participated. The students formed teams and competed to assemble an emergency bag, consisting of a flashlight, a pocket transistor radio, a bottle of water and a Red Cross first-aid kit.

A child stood in front of each of the supplies, placed one in a bucket and passed the bucket down the line to the next person.

Hamlin's team went first and filled their bags in 57 seconds. When two other teams also hit the 57-second mark, a one-bag fill-off was held.

Hamlin's competitiveness came out. He gently told his young teammates to put their items in the bucket quickly and move it down the table as fast as possible.

Even with that instruction, though, Hamlin's team was unable to win.

He took the defeat well.

Afterward, Hamlin signed each hat, CD and piece of paper handed to him. He smiled for every picture and never showed a moment's impatience or annoyance.

His presence wasn't going to change anyone's life. The hats he signed might be misplaced in a day or week or month. But Hamlin understood that the young students viewed him as a star and a celebrity. He was there to do a job, and he was going to do it well.

"I love working with Red Cross," Hamlin said. "They do a lot to help kids prepare, and the sooner you start with kids on that, the better.

"We want them to be the leader for this in their families."

Tonight, Hamlin wants to be the leader at RIR, particularly on Lap 400.