Denny Hamlin's First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race - 2005 Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods

Joe Gibbs' entry into owning 3 cars at one time did not go very well in 2005. Jason Leffler was selected as the driver of the new #11 FedEx Chevrolet. Unfortunately, Leffler was underperforming, barely keeping the team within the coveted top 35 in owner points. He even DNQ'd the Coca-Cola 600, which is unacceptable for a Joe Gibbs Racing entry.
Leffler was eventually let go after the Brickyard 400. Terry Labonte ran a few races, but it essentially became an audition between J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin as they split driving duties for the rest of the year. Hamlin would get his chance at the #11 in the Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods at the Kansas Speedway in what would be his first NEXTEL Cup Series start.
Hamlin had a stellar first qualifying lap, but he got loose in turn 3 on the second lap and crashed. He would qualify 7th but had to go to the rear of the field on Sunday due to being in a backup car after crashing in qualifying.
Hamlin started at the rear, but slowly moved his way up. However, sometime between laps 60 and 80, Hamlin made an unscheduled pit stop with a cut tire. It cost him 2 laps. NBC seemed to not pay attention to the matter. Hamlin would be competitive on restarts, keeping up with lead lap cars such as Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth. Unfortunately for Hamlin, he could not make up the 2 laps and finished 32nd. NBC did interview him after the race, so we got to hear how his race went.
It's interesting to see how confident Hamlin was during this entire weekend. He genuinely felt he had a fast car and would be capable of keeping the car up front. Seeing how he was competitive on restarts, I think he would be right if he didn't have that unscheduled pit stop. Hamlin would go on to get 3 top 10s and one pole in his 6 other starts in the #11, something that the other drivers couldn't do with that car, so Joe selected him to drive the #11 full-time starting in 2006. Hamlin has not vacated the #11 since then and continues to be one of the top Cup Series competitors (and heel to some fans) today.
Qualifying uploaded by Dave W. Race is my own recording. Video is for awareness purposes only. All credit to NASCAR and NBC.

[@marines24601]

I felt had Denny Hamlin didn't come along this team and sponsor would not be here today. No disrespect to the great late Jason leffer but denny saved this team and made it what it is today

[@zanemarte9877]

The problem with Leffler was that he was rushed to Cup. He needed another year in Busch (now Xfinity) to develop, but instead he got recruited to drive for Chip Ganassi's brand new team. Leffler in 2001 showed that he was a bust and should have never gotten a 2nd chance in Cup after seeing his 2001 and 2005 stats.

[@gordonfan200]

So he thought his qualifying lap sucked, but if he shut it down he would have started 7th lol what could have been for his debut if he started 7th

[@walkerking3875]

He wrecked in his first Cup qualifying attempt? I never knew that hahaha

[@Sam-el6hq]

Pre meth denny