CAREER

  • SEPT/10/2011

    Qualified for sixth consecutive Chase for the Sprint Cup - the second longest playoff streak in NASCAR history (Richmond Int’l Raceway)

  • JUNE/19/2011

    Recorded his 17th career Sprint Cup win (Michigan Int'l Speedway)

  • NOV/21/2010

    Finished the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as the Championship Runner-Up thanks to a season-high eight race victories to double his Cup career win total

  • SEPT/11/2010

    Qualified for fifth consecutive Chase for the Sprint Cup with personal record sixth season victory (Richmond Int’l Raceway)

  • MAY/8/2010

    First driver since 1993 to sweep both Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Darlington Raceway

  • SEPT/12/2009

    First Sprint Cup win in home track of Richmond, Va. (Richmond Int’l Raceway)

  • FEB/14/2008

    First Toyota driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race with victory in the Gatorade Duel non-points qualifier for Daytona 500 (Daytona Int’l Speedway)

  • DEC/2/2006

    Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year, scoring the highest ever points finish (3rd) for a rookie

  • SEPT/9/2006

    First rookie to ever qualify for the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup (Richmond Int’l Raceway)

  • JULY/23/2006

    Second rookie in Nextel Cup history to sweep both races at a track during the same season, both from the pole position (Pocono Raceway)

  • JUNE/11/2006

    First career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win (Pocono Raceway)

  • MAR/5/2006

    First career NASCAR Busch Series win (Mexico City)

  • FEB/11/2006

    First rookie to win the Budweiser Shootout (Daytona Int’l Speedway)

  • NOV/13/2005

    First career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole (Phoenix Int’l Raceway)

  • NOV/6/2005

    Named driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing #11 FedEx Chevrolet for 2006

  • OCT/9/2005

    NASCAR NEXTEL Cup debut, finishing 32nd (Kansas Speedway)

  • MAY/13/2005

    NASCAR debut at home track with parents Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin in attendance (Richmond Int'l Raceway)

  • NOV/13/2004

    NASCAR Busch Series debut, finished 8th (Darlington Raceway)

  • AUG/6/2004

    NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut, finishing 10th (Indianapolis Raceway Park)

  • 2004

    Signed driver development contract with Joe Gibbs Racing

  • 2004

    Started 17th and finished third in his first-ever ARCA Series race

  • 2003

    Won 30 poles and 25 of 36 Late Model stock car races throughout Virginia and North Carolina

  • 2002

    Won ten Late Model stock car races

  • 2000

    Rookie of the Year for Late Model Stock Car Division (Southside Speedway)

  • 1999

    Voted Most Popular Driver in NASCAR Grand Stock Division

  • 1997

    NASCAR Mini Stock Champion and Rookie of the Year (Langley Speedway) after winning first-ever mini stock race from pole at age 16; Limited Dash Champion (Southside Speedway)

  • 1995

    World Karting Association Virginia Dirt Series State Junior Champion

  • 1994

    Won Amelia Motor Raceway (Va.) track championship – Junior Restricted & Junior Stock

  • 1992

    Meets racing hero Bill Elliott who'll he race against over a dozen years later

  • 1992

    Won Southside Speedway (Va.) track championship – Junior Sportsman

  • 1992

    Met Joe Gibbs and told Coach he'd be racing for him when he gets older

  • 1988

    Won first race he entered in go-kart at age 7