'Denny's Denny's': Hamlin partners with classic restaurant for unique fan experience
Is Denny Hamlin your favorite driver? Do you love Denny's restaurant?
Well, you're in luck.
Thanks to a new partnership between the classic American restaurant and the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy both at a racetrack very soon.
Starting with the April 11 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, a custom "Denny's Denny's" will travel with Hamlin and allow fans to enjoy their favorite driver while sitting in a replica of their favorite restaurant.
Fans will visiting "Denny's Denny's" will be able to take "boothies" in a diner booth with a superimposed image of Hamlin sitting next to them to share socially, enjoy unique video content and enter a "Denny's Denny's" sweepstakes for a chance at a VIP experience.
A look inside the "Denny's Denny's" that will travel with Hamlin to various NASCAR races.
Hamlin will also appear at the mobile unit at select times to meet fans, sign autographs and hold giveaways.
"Denny Hamlin is as intrinsic to the NASCAR culture as the Grand Slam is to ours, so it was only a matter of time before we combined two all-American favorites," said John Dillon, chief marketing officer for Denny's. "Given Denny is such a huge fan of our restaurant, we wanted to build 'Denny's Denny's' to make sure that both his fans and our guests could get in on the action, whether they are dining with us or watching him at the tracks this summer."
The "Denny's Denny's" mobile unit will be at Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, Daytona International Speedway on July 5 and Hamlin's annual Short Track Showdown at South Boston Speedway on April 23.
For Hamlin, this is a partnership a lifetime in the making.
"When I was a kid, Denny's was always really a part of what we've known. We used to stop at Denny's every weekend after we won a race -- back then, we won a lot," Hamlin told FOXSports.com. "There was one in particular we stopped at all the time. My mom knew the waitress and knew her name and still knows her. It's always kind of been an American tradition, to go to Denny's, especially late at night."
Still to this day, Hamlin's mom goes out of her way to find the local Denny's whenever getting to the track.
"She goes to Las Vegas and eats Denny's," he said with a laugh. "That's just what we've always done. She loves the food there and always brings me breakfast from there in the morning."
Denny Hamlin's love of Denny's goes all the way back to his childhood.
Hamlin is eager to see the fans' reaction to the "Denny's Denny's" program, especially the video spots that will be coming up throughout the year.
"I think the race fans are going to relate," Hamlin said of his love for Denny's. "They'll be able to go in there and take a 'boothie' and make it look like they're having lunch or breakfast with me. It'll be pretty cool."
As a longtime Denny's customer, what is Hamlin's go-to meal? What would his feature plate be if he could make one?
"You'll soon to find out it will be the Grand Slam Hamlin," he said. "I like the Grand Slam myself, and we've renamed it in the commercials."
While Hamlin is glad the racing gig worked out, he says a future with Denny's is always a possibility as a franchisee.
"I'd like to," he said. "Let's just see how the fans react to it and the reception the little mobile Denny's gets around the racetrack. But I'd love to. It has my name on it, so why not?"
Hamlin says both he and Denny's had reached out to one another over the years, but this partnership really came together over the past year.
"I think it's going to be fun for everyone," he said.
Check out an exclusive sneak peak at some of the new upcoming "Denny's Denny's" video spot:
