Hamlin Wins in Texas
Fort Worth, TX (April 19, 2010) - Denny Hamlin appears to have no problem waiting out a little rain.
For the second time in the past three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races Hamlin would deliver his No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota to Victory Lane on Monday following a rainy Sunday that postponed action for a day.
Hamlin’s first victory at Texas Motor Speedway comes less than three weeks following surgery to repair the ACL in his left knee. Starting the No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota in the 29th position, Hamlin quickly established himself as a contender. He methodically worked his way toward the front by passing cars on the track and gaining positions on pit road thanks to quick work by the FedEx Ground crew on pit road. Hamlin moved into the top five for a restart on lap 116 and following a round of green flag pit stops on lap 170 he was up to the second position. Hamlin would continue to battle loose conditions, especially on the longer green flag runs, but he continued to race in the top ten and was back up into the fifth position by lap 254. Hamlin was the fastest car on the track following a round of green flag pit stops on 286 and worked his way back into third place. A caution on lap 310 brought all the leaders to pit road again and the FedEx crew opted for a two-tire change that kept Hamlin back on the track in third position. He was able to gain a spot on the restart and move into second position behind Jeff Burton when the race was red flagged following a major wreck just behind the leaders on lap 317. When the race restarted with just 12 laps to go Hamlin wasted no time going to the front and managed to open up a good lead and then hold off a charging Jimmie Johnson for the race win.
Kyle Busch started the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota in the seventh position and was strong through the early going of the race gaining positions on the track and on pit road and racing as high as the second position. However loose conditions would surface in the first of several green flag runs on the day and Busch would drift back to outside the top 10 by the time a caution came out on lap 77. Fast work and good adjustments by the Interstate Batteries crew allowed Busch to race back into the top 10, but long green flag runs would highlight this race and Busch would spend the majority of the second half of the race running just outside of the top ten. A caution on lap 310 would send everyone on the lead lap to pit road however and a fast two-tire change by the Interstate Batteries crew gained Busch seven positions and enabled him to restart in the sixth position with just 19 laps remaining. Busch made a strong move on the restart to move into the fourth position and avoid a major accident that occurred just behind him on lap 317. Another strong effort on the race’s final restart with just 12 laps to go allowed Busch to slide right behind Hamlin in second place. He would eventually relinquish second to a hard charging Jimmie Johnson with just two laps remaining, but was able to hold on for a solid third-place effort.
Joey Logano qualified the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota in the 19th position on Friday, but was forced to start the race yesterday at the back of the field after the team elected to make an engine change. Logano wouldn’t remain in the back for long however as he quickly began to make his way through the field and was in 27th position by lap 27. Logano would continue to make his way forward and climbed to just outside the top-ten at times before settling in around the 15th position on the long green flag runs. Logano reported improved handling thanks to good adjustments by the Home Depot crew throughout the course of the race but unfortunately any hopes of a late-race run into the top ten was ruined when he got caught in a late race accident started by Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon. Heavy damage to the front of his car was able to be repaired and Logano was able to get back on the track but was several laps down and he was forced to settle for a 28th-place finish.
Johnson finished second behind Hamlin, while Kurt Busch placed just behind brother Kyle in fourth, and Kasey Kahne rounded out the top-five. There were seven cautions for a total of 32 laps and 29 lead changes among 12 different drivers. 14 drivers failed to finish the 334-lap race.
Eight races into the 2010 season all three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers are currently in the Chase. Kyle Busch is currently in sixth position, while Hamlin’s win vaulted him into the 11th position, and Logano holds onto the 12th spot in a tie with Tony Stewart.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to Talladega Superspeedway next Sunday, April 25. The 501-mile race will begin at 1 PM ET with live, high-definition coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at Noon ET. The race will also be broadcast live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 128.