Scored a dominating win at Martinsville last season, but had only two other top fives and a total of only eight top 10s. Still 10th in points, largely because he failed to finish only once. Hamilton will be the only driver who made the top 15 in points last year who won't have a teammate in 1999.
Career
First win in his NASCAR Winston Cup Series career came at Phoenix in October 1996, winning the Dura-Lube 500 from the 17th position on the grid.
And while owner Richard Petty is no stranger to the checkered patch of pavement that so many drivers yearn for but so few find, Hamilton's win brought "The King" back to Victory Lane for the first time since October 1983.
1996 was also highlighted by two poles, at Michigan for the Pepsi 400 in June, and at Martinsville, for the Hanes 500 in September. A win, two poles, three top-5s, 11 top-10s, nearly a million dollars in race winnings all added up to the most successful season of the 39-year-old's career.
Former Nashville Speedway track champion. Big break came when he beat Darrell Waltrip, Sterling Marlin and Bill Elliott in a special four-car "Superstar Showdown" at Nashville in '88. When Rick Hendrick was seeking competent drivers to drive movie cars for "Days of Thunder' filming, Waltrip recommended Hamilton. Hamilton qualified fifth at Phoenix in movie car in '89, took the lead and ran in the top 10 before he was forced by NASCAR to park the car.
First full season of Winston Cup was 1991. Best finish, sixth in '91 AC Delco 500. Best start, second in '92 AC Delco 500. Won 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honor, nipping Ted Musgrave. Had one top-10 finish in '94 on way to earning $514,520 in '94 earnings. Finished 23rd in '94 Winson Cup standings.
1995 was a successful year with the biggest surprise coming at the Brickyard 400 were Hamilton just missed the pole by a split-second behind Jeff Gordon. Ended 14th in the point standings and had 10 top-10 finishes. Took top-three starting positions at Richmond, Pocono, North Wilkesboro and Atlanta.
Grandfather and father built race cars for the late singer/racer Marty Robbins.
Sources: NASCAR Press Guides, Star and News staff reports.
