Hamlin suffers ACL tear, still plans to drive season

Denny Hamlin, widely considered the top challenger to Jimmie Johnson for the 2010 Sprint Cup Series championship, plans to drive this season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Hamlin

Hamlin tore the ACL while playing basketball on Friday, a team spokesman confirmed. The plans are for Hamlin to be in the car at Daytona and throughout the 2010 campaign, and then have surgery to repair the ligament after the season. Immediate surgery is not an option because of the lengthy recovery time.

No definite timetable has been set as far as surgery. Hamlin underwent minor surgery on his right knee in December.

Hamlin won four races in 2009, including the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He finished fifth in points, and second behind Johnson in Driver Rating.

Entering his fifth full season, Hamlin has eight victories, 47 top-five finishes and 79 top-10s in 151 starts and has made the Chase in each of the past four years.