12 Questions with Denny Hamlin

Jeff Gluck | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption What to watch for at Dover International Speedway USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck breaks down the FedEx 400.

Our series of weekly NASCAR driver interviews continues with Denny Hamlin, who will run a special FedEx Cares paint scheme in Sunday's FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway. Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth are participating in a text-to-donate campaign for Autism Speaks in connection with the event (text RACING to 30644 to donate).

Q: If NASCAR allowed you to listen to music while you were racing, would you want to?

A: No. Too distracting. Plus, I think the spotters are on the radio over half the time anyway during your laps now, and who wants to hear a skipping song?

Q: Where did your first paycheck come from?

A: Subway. That was my first actual paycheck.

Oh, that's right. I forgot you were a sandwich artist. How old were you when you started working there?

I was 16. I wrecked my truck and the only way I could pay to fix it was to get a job. So I applied at a Subway.

How long did you work there?

I worked there about a year, and then my dad started the trailer shop business so I went to go work for him.

Q: Who is an autograph you got as a kid that seemed to be a big deal to you at the time?

A: I'd say probably Dale Earnhardt was the biggest autograph I got when I was a kid, mainly because it was so hard to get it. His lines were way longer and it nearly took an act of God to get his autograph.

Every time the races would come to Richmond, my mom would have a sheet of where each driver was doing appearances. And we'd go on a Thursday night road trip to each stop to get each driver's autograph.

You know, you'd wait three hours for Dale Earnhardt. And no offense to my buddy Michael (Waltrip), but I only had to wait about four or five people for his. (Laughs) But it was at the end of the night, so he was probably wrapping it up.

Q: Where's a place you've never been that you'd like to go visit?

A: Australia for sure. And Montreal.

Really? Why Montreal?

I just hear Montreal is nice, especially during the summer months. It's supposed to be a clean city. The races I've watched up there, it always looked like a good time.

Q: Do people ever accuse you of being addicted to your phone?

A: Yeah. My parents, mostly – especially when I go to dinner with them. For me, I'm constantly checking sports scores on my phone. I don't really do it to check social media, but there's always a game on that I want to keep track of.

Q: If a genie promised you a championship in exchange for never being able to do your favorite hobby again, would you accept that offer?

A: Yeah, I'd take it because I could come up with a new hobby. That's easier to do than winning a championship. I've got a handful of hobbies I like, so taking one away wouldn't kill me. You said only one, right?

Q: What's your preferred method of dealing with an angry driver after a race?

A: I'll usually send a text right away after the race. There hasn't been many times when I've pissed somebody off and then actually seen them right after, so I think sending a text or calling is the courteous thing. At least then you let them know you didn't mean to screw their day up.

Well, you saw Danica Patrick right after the race at Daytona.

Yeah, and I made the attempt to walk up to her. That's the only person I think I've really pissed off this year. With the cars parked on pit road now, I think it's easier to … (Grins) NASCAR strategically put everyone out there.

Think it'll result in a fight at some point?

You might see some shoving, but I'm not sure these guys are all man enough to throw a punch.

Q: Do you ever get mistaken for another driver or celebrity?

A: People say "Kasey" sometimes. But they more mistake Austin (Peyton, Hamlin's manager) for Kurt Busch. (Smiles)

Peyton: Thanks, Denny.

Q: If you had a time machine and you could travel to any year and race, where would you go?

A: Probably the early-to-mid '90s. Let's call it 1992. Like the year Alan Kulwicki, Bill Elliott and Davey Allison were battling for the championship. It'd have been awesome to race in that particular year.

The cars were sliding around, we were on bias ply tires, we weren't running 200 mph through the middle of the corner. So I'd go back to those days.

Q: Would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible?

A: Hmm. I'd say be invisible. If you're invisible, you could go to some mighty nice places. Or you could eavesdrop on conversations.

Q: I've been asking each person to give me a question for the next interview. The last interview was with Sam Hornish Jr., and he wanted to know what point of your career was the most fun for you.

A: In NASCAR, I'd say probably 2006 – my rookie year – was the most fun. I was learning, the expectations weren't high and I liked the way the cars drove – they were a little bit more fun to drive. Really, every year after that, it's been less fun to actually drive the cars. Every year has been a little bit worse.

But if you go all the way back, I'd say Late Models in 2002 was my favorite year. We'd just go everywhere and beat up on everybody at all the short tracks. That's the year we won like 25 out of 35 races. That was just a fun year.

Plus, the team I had, we'd all travel around together. We'd race on Friday night, then drive down to the next track and roll our car out at the motel and set it on scales in the middle of the parking lot. It was just good times. There was a sense of family with my crew guys back then.

Q: And do you have a question I can ask the next driver?

A: I'd ask who they think is the next superstar out of nowhere – like the next kid who had low expectations that performed well. I think back in the day when Jimmie (Johnson) came along and I came along, we weren't that great in the Xfinity Series, but when we got to Cup, those cars just suited us better. So it'd be interesting to see who they think that person is.

Q: Finally, how did this interview go on a scale of 1-10?

A: This went about a 9 because it was pretty easy. Your questions weren't as tough as in years past. You've got to work a little harder. (Laughs)

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck