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Sprint Cup
CUP: Hamlin Hopes For Martinsville Repeat
Denny Hamlin has his sights set on another dramatic win at Martinsville...
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2010. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Denny Hamlin has 14 career Sprint Cup victories, three of them at Martinsville Speedway in his home state.
All were big for Hamlin, but none comes close to equaling his victory here in the spring.
Why?
Because it was a race he shouldn’t have won – despite leading a race-high 172 laps.
Hamlin dominated the first half of the race and was leading Jeff Burton, his closest challenger, when Burton had a flat tire late in the race.
On a late pit stop with just six laps remaining, Hamlin pitted for four tires while many of the top contenders either stayed on the track or took only two tires, burying Hamlin deep in the pack of lead-lap drivers.
But Hamlin made some daring passes and wild three-wide moves to charge back through the field. He got a break when a caution flag flew for teammate Kyle Busch's spin on the white-flag lap, setting up one final restart and a green-white-checkered finish.
On the final restart, leader Jeff Gordon collided with Matt Kenseth, paving the way for Hamlin to dive to the inside and take the lead.
It was Hamlin’s third win at Martinsville, but this one was different.
“It was the most gratifying win that I’ve had because usually, the wins that I’ve had in the Cup Series have been really just blow them all out, lead the most laps, nobody passes us, no competition type of things,” Hamlin said.
“That was the first one I really had to battle through and really race guys hard for a win. That was a little bit more gratifying. I didn’t just have the best car at that particular moment.”
All were big for Hamlin, but none comes close to equaling his victory here in the spring.
Why?
Because it was a race he shouldn’t have won – despite leading a race-high 172 laps.
Hamlin dominated the first half of the race and was leading Jeff Burton, his closest challenger, when Burton had a flat tire late in the race.
On a late pit stop with just six laps remaining, Hamlin pitted for four tires while many of the top contenders either stayed on the track or took only two tires, burying Hamlin deep in the pack of lead-lap drivers.
But Hamlin made some daring passes and wild three-wide moves to charge back through the field. He got a break when a caution flag flew for teammate Kyle Busch's spin on the white-flag lap, setting up one final restart and a green-white-checkered finish.
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On the final restart, leader Jeff Gordon collided with Matt Kenseth, paving the way for Hamlin to dive to the inside and take the lead.
It was Hamlin’s third win at Martinsville, but this one was different.
“It was the most gratifying win that I’ve had because usually, the wins that I’ve had in the Cup Series have been really just blow them all out, lead the most laps, nobody passes us, no competition type of things,” Hamlin said.
“That was the first one I really had to battle through and really race guys hard for a win. That was a little bit more gratifying. I didn’t just have the best car at that particular moment.”
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