2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

Denny Hamlin Career Paint Schemes

The way the new Chase works you can actually have a better overall season by a long shot and still not make the final four like you did the season prior. Just ask Denny Hamlin all about that. In 2014 he may have been the least deserving of a final four spot in the final. 

In 2015 he doubled his top 5's (7 to 14) while also notching more wins (1 to 2) and top 10's (18 to 20 total). However, he ran into the trouble late at Dega that locked in the fate of many drivers and it left him short of the next round.

In 2016 he will look to mix the results of getting to Miami from 2014, with the quality all around season of 2015 to make a complete season and possibly help JGR win back to back Championships.

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

• After Denny's injury in 2013 it has been a slow climb back to the caliber he was at before it. Some of that was Denny, and some of that has been the season long power of JGR. In 2016 I think he continues his jump back to the old Denny once again. That means 3-4 wins, 12-14 top 5's, and 18-20 top 10's with a chance to notch his highest ever top 10 mark (currently it is 20). I do think Denny will be one of the top drivers of 2016 and will be a favorite heading into the Chase.

Previous Driver Spotlights

NASCAR Hall of Fame

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame

By Richard Tix

Starting in 2010 NASCAR started introducing 5 NASCAR racing legends a year into the Hall of Fame. Here is a list of each Class and there year they were introduced. 

Class of 2016

• Jerry Cook- Driver
• Bobby Isaac- Driver
• Terry Labonte- Driver
• O. Bruton Smith- Executive/Promoter
• Curtis Turner- Driver

Class of 2015

• Bill Elliott- Driver
• Fred Lorenzen- Driver
• Wendell Scott- Driver/Owner
• Joe Weatherly- Driver
• Rex White- Driver/Owner

Class of 2014

• Tim Flock- Driver
• Jack Ingram- Driver
• Dale Jarrett- Driver
• Maurice Petty- Engine Builder
• Fireball Roberts- Driver

Class of 2013

• Buck Baker- Driver
• Cotton Owens- Driver/Owner
• Herb Thomas- Driver
• Rusty Wallace- Driver
• Lenard Wood- Crew Chief/Engine Builder

Class of 2012

• Cale Yarborough- Driver
• Darrell Waltrip- Driver
• Dale Inman- Crew Chief
• Richie Evans- Driver
• Glen Wood- Driver/Owner

Class of 2011

• Bobby Allison- Driver
• Ned Jarrett- Driver
• Bud Moore- Owner
• David Pearson- Driver
• Lee Petty- Driver

Class of 2010

• Dale Earnhardt- Driver
• Bill France Jr.- Executive
• Bill France Sr.- Executive
• Junior Johnson- Driver/Owner
• Richard Petty- Driver

2016 NASCAR All Time Wins Leaders

A Drivers List of the All Time Wins in NASCAR History Heading into 2016

By Richard Tix

Its simple, a look back at who has the most wins heading into the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season in Cup History. Here is the list at the start of the 2015 season.

• Richard Petty. Hall of Fame- 200
• David Pearson. Hall of Fame- 105 
• Jeff Gordon.- 93
• Bobby Allison. Hall of Fame- 84
• Darrell Waltrip. Hall of Fame- 84
• Cale Yarborough. Hall of Fame- 83
• Dale Earnhardt. Hall of Fame- 76
• Jimmie Johnson. Still Active- 75
• Rusty Wallace. Hall of Fame- 55
• Lee Petty. Hall of Fame- 54
• Ned Jarrett. Hall of Fame- 50
• Junior Johnson. Hall of Fame- 50
• Tony Stewart. Still Active- 48
• Herb Thomas. Hall of Fame- 48
• Buck Baker. Hall of Fame- 46
• Bill Elliott. Hall of Fame- 44
• Mark Martin- 40
• Tim Flock. Hall of Fame- 39
• Bobby Isaac. Hall of Fame- 37
• Matt Kenseth. Still Active- 36
• Kyle Busch. Still Active- 34
• Fireball Roberts. Hall of Fame- 33
• Dale Jarrett. Hall of Fame- 32
• Kevin Harvick. Still Active- 31
• Rex White. Hall of Fame- 28
• Kurt Busch. Still Active- 27
• Fred Lorenzen. Hall of Fame- 26
• Dale Earnhadrt Jr. Still Active- 26
• Denny Hamlin. Still Active- 26
• Jim Paschal- 25
• Joe Weatherly. Hall of Fame- 25
• Carl Edwards. Still Active- 25
• Ricky Rudd- 22
• Terry Labonte. Hall of Fame- 22
• Jeff Burton- 21
• Bobby Labonte- 21
• Benny Parsons- 21
• Jack Smith- 21
• Speedy Thompson- 20
• Davey Allison- 19
• Buddy Baker- 19
• Greg Biffle. Still Active- 19
• Fonty Flock- 19
• Geoffrey Bodine- 18
• Neil Bonnett- 18
• Harry Gant- 18
• Brad Keselowski. Still Active- 17
• Kasey Kahne. Still Active- 17
• Ryan Newman. Still Active- 17
• Marvin Panch- 17
• Curtis Turner. Hall of Fame- 17
• Ernie Irvan- 15
• Joey Logano. Still Active- 14
• Dick Hutcherson- 14
• LeeRoy Yarbrough- 14
• Dick Rathmann- 13
• Tim Richmond- 13
• Donnie Allison- 10
• Sterling Marlin- 10

**Red: An Active Driver in the Cup Series**

Many more drivers in NASCAR history have at least one win, but I wanted to focus on the guys who have at least double digit wins for the sake of keeping this short. MRN.com has the full list of drivers who have won at the Cup level if you are interested in looking deeper.

2016 NASCAR News Central

By Richard Tix

This year NASCAR Behind the Wall is adding an extra feature, a quick link to NASCAR News. I will continually track and update news on this main page. Sponsor news, contract talk, team talk, driver changes, driver news, and much more (Newest to oldest).


News Central
Sponsor News

• Dollar General to leave Matt Kenseth and JGR after 2016
• Kasey Kahne will be sponsored by Shark Week again at Sonoma
• Premium Motorsports/Reed Sorenson has added the World Record Striper Company for three races
• BUBBA burger Joins David Ragan for Sprint All-Star Race Weekend and Coca-Cola 600
• Driver to Fight Hunger joins Kasey Kahne.
• DiBenedetto gets sponsor for Richmond: E.J. Wade Construction
• WIX Filters Extends Partnership with Richard Childress Racing
• CARSTAR North America partners with Axalta, to be featured on #88 at Kansas
• Go Bowling to sponsor RPM and Brian Scott at Kansas
• Gilliland to race at Talladega
• ScienceLogic will sponsor Ryan Ellis for at least three races in the #93 BK Racing Camry
• Janssen Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation on the SHR #14 for Auto Club
• Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters to sponsor Cole Whitt in the #98 in 2016
• Schluter Systems will sponsor Matt DiBenedetto's in the  No. 83 Toyota Camry at PIR
• Snap Fitness will sponsor Landon Cassill again in 2016 (Photo's here)
• Speed Stick joins Premium Motorsports to sponsor Whitt
• SunnyD will sponsor Ricky Stenhouse Jr as a primary for five races in 2016
• Tweaker Energy Shots will be Premium Motorsports sponsor at Atlanta Motor Speedway
• Fr8Auctions sponsoring Cassill
• Sewanee University to sponsor DiBenedetto
• Aaron's to sponsor Clint Bowyer at Atlanta
• Roush Performance will be on the #16 at Atlanta
• Valvoline to sponsor Paul Menard for four races in 2016 (co-primary/hood sponsorship)
• Auto-Owners Insurance to sponsor Martin Truex Jr for three races in 2016
• Aarons signs on with Waltrip for Talledega (GEICO 500, May 1st)
• Snap Fitness will sponsor Landon Cassill again in 2016 for select races.
• RTIC Coolers to sponsor Cole Whitt, Premium Motorsports, in the #98 for the Daytona 500
• Credit One to sponsor Jamie McMurray for three races in 2016 (Photos here)
• Florida Lottery will sponsor Landon Cassill for the Daytona 500 and all of speedweeks.
• M&M's to run 75th anniversary scheme in 2016 (Photos on 2016 Paint Scheme Page)
• Reed Sorenson to be sponsored by CRC BRAKLEEN for the Daytona 500
• Jimmie Johnson's Lowes "Red Vest" Sponsored Car will be run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• BK Racing #26 to be sponsored by Stalk for the Daytona 500
• SunEnergy1 to sponsor Chase Elliott in 2016. More details to come when its official
• SKF will sponsor Brad Keselowski for the Sprint Unlimited
• Visine to sponsor Clint Bowyer for three races in 2016
• Sport Clips will sponsor Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards for two races each.
• Keen Parts/Corvetteparts.net will be back on the #32 again in 2016
• Sherwin Williams to stick with Jamie McMurray again in 2016
• CSX extends sponsorship with the #34 for 8 races in 2016. It's CSX's 4th consecutive season sponsoring in NASCAR for the #34.
• Tony Stewarts sponsorship with Bass Pro Shops is reduced after Truex news (9 races). Smoke to get 2-3 races as primary.
• Thrivent Financial will once again sponsor Michael McDowell. 15 races in 2016
• General Mills to sponsor Ty Dillon in the Daytona 500 (#95) (Photos here).
• Nexteer Automotive will be Associate Sponsor for Ty Dillon in the #95
• Smithfield will sponsor Aric Almirola for 31 races in 2016
• Love’s Travel Shops moves from the #38 to the #34 with Buescher for 18 races.
• Martin Truex Jr lands Bass Pro Shops as primary sponsor for 9 races in 2016.
• Greg Biffle adds a multi-race KFC sponsorship in 2016 (loses Ortho).
• Scott brings Shore Lodge sponsorship with him to RPM (Cup).

Team/Driver News

• HMS, SHR, and RCR News
• Kevin Harvick signs 5 year extension with SHR (SHR)
• Chase Elliott won All Star Fan vote, Danica Patrick second (HMS/SHR)
• Tony Stewart to return at Richmond. Start Dega but Ty will take over (SHR)
• Ty Dillon in the #14 for Bristol Motor Speedway (SHR)
• Vickers in the #14 for Texas Motor Speedway (SHR)
• Vickers in the #14 for Martinsville Speedway (SHR)
• Jimmie Johnson wins at Auto Club (HMS)
• Vickers in the #14 at Auto Club Speedway (SHR)
• Kevin Harvick wins at Phoenix (SHR)
• Ty Dillon back in the #14 for Phoenix. (SHR)
• Hendrick plane makes emergency landing in Memphis (HMS)
• Jimmie Johnson wins Atlanta (HMS)
• SHR switching from Chevy to Ford in 2017.
• Ty Dillon to run the #14 for SHR at Atlanta Motor Speedway (SHR)
• #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Jackman undergoes off season surgery, will miss the start season. (SHR)
• #4 and #14 fail post qualifying inspection for Daytona 500. Sent to back of Can-Am Duel
• Chase Elliott wins 2016 Daytona 500 Pole (HMS)
• #14 car will still be eligible for the Sprint Unlimited even though Tony Stewart will not drive in it. (SHR)
• Brian Vickers to run the #14 for Stewart in the Daytona 500. Rumored that Ty Dillon will run some other races after. Official announcement Friday at 11:30 a.m. ET (SHR)
• Tony Stewarts replacement to be named Friday 11:30 a.m. ET (SHR)
• 19 and 41 purchase Charter from folded MWR teams. (SHR)
• Tony Stewart will miss the Daytona 500 due to injury (burst fracture of his L1 vertebra). Out indefinitely. (SHR)
• Tony Stewart was hospitalized for a back injury after an ATV accident. (SHR)
• Circle Sports and RCR create technical alliance for 2016. (RCR)
• Tony Stewart to retire at the end of 2016 (SHR)
• Penske, RFR, Wood Brothers, and RPM News
• Penske is still planning on adding Ryan Blaney with a third Penske car eventually (Penske)
• Penkse and SHR will work close in 2017
• Brad Keselowski wins at Las Vegas (Penske)
• Wood Brothers leaves Race Team Alliance 
• Chris Buescher joins Front Row Motorsports to drive #34. Alliance with RFR.
• Brian Wilson (Penske) promoted to CC of the #22 Xfinity car. (Penske)
• Brian Scott and RPM transition the #9 into the #44. (RPM)
• JGR and FRR News
• Furniture Row drops penalty appeal. Will serve at Phoenix (FRR)
• #78 crew chief (Cole Pearn) suspended a race after AMS; team will appeal (FRR)
• #78 crew chief placed on probation for roof flap violation after Daytona (FRR)
• Denny Hamlin wins the 2016 Daytona 500 (JGR)
• 19 and 41 purchase Charter from folded MWR teams. (JGR)
• Kenseth's spotter not healed enough to be at Daytona 500. Most likely will miss the race (JGR)
• Other Team/Driver News
• Ryan Ellis to drive the #93 for BK Racing in at least three races 
• Joey Gase in the #32 for GoFast at Martinsville
• Jeffery Earnhardt in the #32 fo GoFast at Auto Club
• Joey Gase in the #32 for GoFast at Phoenix
• AJ Allmendinger to have sticker honoring Bernie Stowe at Daytona. Sticker reads: "In Loving Memory of Bernie Stowe."
• FRM to field car (third car) for David Gilliland at the Daytona 500. The #35 car (FRM)
• Reed Sorenson to run for Hillman Racing (#40) at Daytona (Hillman)
• Premium to lease Charter to HScott for the #46 (Michael Annett)
• BK Racing to run a fourth car at Daytona. Robert Richardson Jr to drive the #26. (BK Racing)
• Front Row Racing still thinking of expanding to a second team in 2017 (FRM)
• BK Racing will field three teams for the Daytona 500. Michael Waltrip in the #83 and Matt DiBenedetto in the #93. Matt will be back in the #83 the following week. They also will field the #23 for David Ragan. (BK Racing)
• Premium Motorsports signs Cole Whitt to driver the #98 in 2016 (Premium)
• Dave Winston named Crew Chief of the #95 for Circle Sports/Leavine. 
• David Ragan will drive the #23 for BK Racing in 2016 (Premium)
• Matt DiBenedetto will remain in the #83 for BK Racing (BK Racing)
• Regan Smith to drive the #7 for Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2016. The #7 keeps Nikko RC and Road Rippers as majority sponsors.
• Tommy Baldwin Racing parts ways with Alex Bowman for 2016 season.
• Circle Sports and RCR create technical alliance for 2016.
• Ty Dillon to run 5 races in the #95 for Circle Racing. McDowell will run the rest of the schedule.
• Donnie Wingo to be CC for Landon Cassill in 2016.
• David Ragan to drive the #23 for BK Racing in 2016.
• Landon Cassill Joins Front Row Motorsports to drive the #38 (FRM)
• Chris Buescher joins Front Row Motorsports to drive #34. Alliance with RFR. (FRM)
• Leavine Family Racing becomes Circle Sport Racing.
• Clint Bowyer will drive the #15 for HScott Motorsports, not the #51
• Other NASCAR News
• Dave Blaney injured at Eldora
• All-Star Race format changes announced (Here)
• 41 cars entered at Richmond. First time over 40 since Daytona 500
• Pocono tire test 4/19 and 4/20
• Roger Penske to drive Indy 500 pace car
• Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett named Kansas Grand Marshal
• Peyton Manning named Bristol race official
• Rumors swirl about a new manufacture in NASCAR. No real meat to the rumor yet.
• Andy Grammar will be the All Star Race pre concert
• Earnhardt Jr. to donate brain for concussion research
• Hillman suing Circle Sport over charter
• Lee Brice performing pre-race concert at Charlotte
• Hendrick plane makes emergency landing in Memphis
• Phoenix extends partnership with O'Reilly Auto Parts
• Roush Yates already prepping for Stewart-Haas addition
• Only 39 cars of 40 entered for Atlanta (Entry List here)
• Eddie Money to play pre-race concert at Kansas
• Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch were added to the driver council. 
• Ken Griffey Jr (MLB HoF) named honorary Daytona 500 Starter
• Credit One becomes official credit card of NASCAR
• Wrestler John Cena Named Honorary Pace Car Driver
• New competition rules were announced including "Overtime Line." Qualifying, points, and G-W-C changed (more here)
• Charter System added for the new season. More details here (NASCAR Implements Charter System)
• Charter system expected to be announced 2/9/16
• Ford and Ford Racing release a new Ford Fusion for 2016 (2017 for actual manufactured street car)