Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

DARLINGTON - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin is used to a job that features high risk, piloting the No. 11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.  However, working behind the counter of a Bojangles’ restaurant in Darlington, S.C. was another story.

Hamlin stopped by the Darlington Bojangles’ on Wednesday promoting the upcoming Bojangles’ Southern 500, which will take place at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 12. Hamlin had hands-on training of how to make the famous Bojangles’ biscuits, while also serving race fans their orders from behind the counter.

It was a fast-paced, positive experience for a driver who just last Sunday was at the top of his profession by winning the Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.

“It was a lot of fun learning what employees of Bojangles’ have to do to make food for so many customers,” Hamlin said. “I worked in the restaurant industry when I was a teenager so it brought back memories of those days. I was glad to visit Darlington today and I can’t wait until we race at Darlington Raceway in a couple of weeks. I love the track and enjoy racing there every year.”

Hamlin also made a stop at Darlington Raceway, competing in a golf challenge with the media. A target was set up on the frontstretch of the famed racetrack with Hamlin and media members attempting to hit the target from 135 yards away. Although no one successfully hit the target, Hamlin came pretty close on a couple of shots.

Hamlin talked about the upcoming Bojangles’ Southern 500 and how much fun it is to drive at the track Too Tough to Tame. Hamlin has shown tremendous success at Darlington, posting one victory in the Southern 500 (2010) and five top-10 finishes in six career starts. He has led 298 laps in his career at the track.

“We’ve really had a lot of success at Darlington including a sixth-place finish here last year,” Hamlin said. “It’s a tough track to drive, but that’s why so many drivers love it. It’s a challenge for us.”

(Information from Darlington Raceway contributed to this report.)