It was virtually no contest as Denny Hamlin was voted second quarter winner of the Driver Of The Year Award. Hamlin bounced back from knee surgery about one month before the second quarter began, and won three NASCAR Sprint Cup races and one NASCAR Nationwide series race in the period ending June 20th. Driving the #11 FedEx Toyota owned by Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin was awarded the honor for the first time in his career. Hamlin had victories in the Showtime Southern 500, Pocono 500, and Heluva Good! Sour Dips 400. And, he won from the pole at Royal Purple 200 Nationwide race in the #20 Z-Line Designs Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin took 12 first-place votes which was six times his closest competition; teammate, #18-Kyle Busch. Hamlin’s scored 122 points according to the Driver Of The Year points system compared to Busch’s 56 points. Dario Franchitti, the Indy 500 winner who drives the Target Chip Ganassi IndyCar, also had one first place vote and received 54 points. Mike Edwards the NHRA’s ProStock driver, also received one first place ballot finishing fifth, behind Larry Dixon in the Top Fuel division.(Racin’ Today)(7-25-2010)
