Denny Hamlin trades helmet for jerseys at Diamondbacks spring training opener
Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin was in Phoenix Wednesday to attend the Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training opener against the Colorado Rockies and to promote the March 13 Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Hamlin made the Arizona stop on his way to Las Vegas, where he'll race in Sunday's Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"It's 'NASCAR goes west'," said Hamlin. "This is the first leg this weekend in Vegas and then we come to Phoenix next weekend. Personally, I'm excited about Phoenix because it's the first short track of the season. Really, these are the true real race tracks where we start to figure out where we stand as a race team. It's been a crazy media tour over the last two weeks, but it beats the alternative of not winning the 500. It's going to stick on my resume a long time, so I've got to live it up for as long as I can."
Before the game, Hamlin traded one of his race helmets for jerseys with Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Clippard and Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez. As it turned out, Gonzalez attended the Daytona 500.
Denny Hamlin (middle) exchanges a race helmet for personalized jerseys with Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Clippard and Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez.
"It's' been amazing," Hamlin said. "I got to see Carlos Gonzalez, who I haven't seen since doing a commercial with him probably eight or nine years ago. He was actually at the race with his son -- he lives in Orlando, so he came to the race and got to take it in and was talking about how crazy of a finish it was too. So that's how you know it's significant -- when people of different sports come out and enjoy a race."
Hamlin and FOX broadcast anchor Michael Waltrip also made an appearance on the MLB Network.
