Hamlin Looks to Build on Positive 2016

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Charlotte (WSLS-10 Sports) -Last season could not have started much better for Denny Hamlin. The Commonwealth kid from Chesterfield captured the coveted Daytona 500--to open the season.  The race is one of the crown jewels of NASCAR's circuit.

"When we had to stay over that night we all got to go out and do something together and so that was-- it was almost like a championship winning moment for a race team so that was one of the greatest things about it.  Then yeah, you go to the racetrack the next week is I mean all the eyes are on you the media is on you because you're the Daytona 500 champion," explained Hamlin.

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Hamlin notched three wins a year ago, following up the 500 with his first road course win at Watkins Gen, and another win at his home track of Richmond.

H was eliminated from the chase after reaching the final eight, but he still looks at 2016 as a building block to bigger and better things.

"We were very young team from the crew chief,engineers everyone was very,very young and inexperienced.  I thought we did really well with the team that young.  So I'm looking forward to growing that this year and really with all the changes  it is almost a different race team that you're going to be a suiting up next to this year," says Hamlin.

The season opening Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 26th.