Hamlin Enjoying Life Under the Radar

Denny Hamlin is poised to become the first rookie to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup -- a feat one could see coming on the first day of the season.

Hamlin stunned more than a few NASCAR fans Feb. 12 when he won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, a sprint among last year’s pole winners that kicks off the week of stock car racing leading to the Daytona 500.

The 25-year-old Virginian made the field by winning the pole last November at Phoenix, shortly after making his Cup debut at Kansas.

Now, in his first full year on the circuit, Hamlin is a bona fide contender to win the series championship. He won both races this year at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania -- both times from the pole -- and has 12 top-10 finishes through the first 24 races of the year.

He also is sixth in points, and hopes a strong finish Sunday in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway will solidify his spot in the Chase, in which the top 10 in points compete for the title over the last 10 races of the season.

There are only two events left to determine the field: this race and next weekend’s at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia.

Hamlin says he also knows that NASCAR’s established stars are likely to get more attention than he will, and that naysayers are more likely to dismiss his chances -- which suits him fine.

“It seems like our name just kind of flies way under the radar and never even really gets brought up, which is good,” he said. “I know what the critics probably say, but we’re as good a team as anybody.”

Indeed, Hamlin pilots the No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing, a team led by reigning Cup champion Tony Stewart that also includes another rookie, J.J. Yeley.

And Hamlin’s record this year at California, its look-alike track Michigan International Speedway and at Richmond suggests he has a solid opportunity to make the Chase.

He was 12th in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway in February, and finished 12th and ninth, respectively, in the two races this year at Michigan. In the previous race at Richmond in May, he was second.

“At California and Richmond, we can definitely put ourselves in position,” Hamlin said. “The cars get spread out a whole lot more, so there is less chance of bad things happening. If we have a shot going into Richmond, we should be in good shape.”

Hamlin, following Stewart’s philosophy, also sees no point in running a conservative race in hopes of staying in the Chase.

“Let’s go and do the best we can, get as high in the Chase as we can, not even think about falling out,” he said. “Let’s just think about what we’ve got to do to improve our position instead of defend it.”

Bagley Classic at Perris

* Perris Auto Speedway plans to hold its annual Jeff Bagley Classic as the USAC/CRA sprint car series returns to the Riverside County half-mile clay oval Saturday night.

The 40-lap race, which will pay $4,750 to the winner, honors 1988 CRA rookie of the year Jeff Bagley and his parents, Paul and Helen Bagley.

Jeff was killed in a 1989 racing crash at Ascot Park, and his parents were killed three years ago after being struck by an out-of-control sprint car at the Perris track.

Last Laps

* Late models, super trucks, legend cars and monster trucks will compete Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway. In the late-model division, Travis Thirkettle of Newhall holds a 25-point lead over reigning title holder Tim Huddleston of Agoura Hills.

* Sprint cars also headline the program at Ventura Raceway tonight and Saturday night in the VRA/Bandit/SCRA Grand Slam Series.

* Champ Car World Series driver Cristiano da Matta “continues to significantly improve” from serious head injuries he suffered Aug. 3 when his car was hit by a deer that ran onto the track at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., Champ Car said.

The Brazilian, recovering at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wis., “is now conversational in both English and Portuguese” and has started to walk on his own, Chris Pinderski, Champ Car medical director, said in a statement.

* The Indy Racing League’s IndyCar series has the week off before ending its season Sept. 10 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

Helio Castroneves leads his Marlboro Team Penske teammate Sam Hornish Jr. by a point for the series championship.

* The Formula One series also is off this week; its next race is Sept. 10 in Monza, Italy.

The series also unveiled its 17-race schedule for 2007. The San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, and the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring near Cologne, Germany, were both left off the schedule, but the Belgian Grand Prix will return.

james.peltz@latimes.com