CUP: Hamlin Wins, Vickers KO’s Kenseth

Sprint Cup

CUP: Hamlin Wins, Vickers KO’s Kenseth

Denny Hamlin finally earned his long-awaited first victory at Richmond International Raceway.

Tom Jensen | Posted September 12, 2009 Richmond, VA

Denny Hamlin won tonight's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy Rock ‘N’ Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin won the Chevy Rock ‘N’ Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night, as Brian Vickers raced his way into the Chase for the Sprint Cup, while Matt Kenseth was eliminated.

CHEVY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL 400 RESULTS

Hamlin dominated the proceedings all night long, scoring an easy victory in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry. Finishing second was the Penske Racing Dodge Charger of Kurt Busch, followed by the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Impalas of Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin, followed by Kyle Busch in a second JGR Toyota. Vickers finished seventh to secure the final Chase spot.

It was a night of firsts, as Virginia native Hamlin finally got the home-track victory he had longed for, while Vickers secured Red Bull Racing its first Chase spot. Juan Pablo Montoya did likewise for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, as the Colombian will contest NASCAR championship round. And the first year Stewart-Haas Racing team got both its cars into the Chase as well.

Kenseth, who qualified 28th, was terrible all night long, at no point appearing a threat to hold onto 12th place in the final race of NASCAR’s regular season.

When the Chase opens next week in Loudon, N.H., Martin will be the points leader with 5,040, 10 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart. Kyle Busch, who along with Martin is a four-time winner this season, was eliminated from Chase contention Saturday night.

It was an eventful evening from the beginning.

Martin started from the pole in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS, flanked by Martin Truex Jr. in an Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevy,

On the first lap, Martin crossed the line first, giving him the critical 5 bonus points. Local favorite Denny Hamlin jumped into second right away as Truex fell back.

Hamlin took the lead on Lap 4, but just after he did, Scott Speed wadded up his Toyota in Turn 2 to bring out the night’s first caution on Lap 6. The wreck was caused when Tony Stewart drifted up into Jeff Burton, who in turn clipped Speed.

Under caution, Matt Kenseth pitted, rejoining the race in 37th place. The race went green on Lap 10, Hamlin holding the lead on the restart.

On Lap 45, Stewart and Reed Sorenson crashed in Turn 4, after Stewart got loose trying to go under Sorenson and David Stremme.

That brought out caution No. 2 and sent the field down pit road for the first time. Hamlin won the race off pit road ahead of Jeff Gordon, Martin, Kurt Busch and Truex. At this point, Kenseth was 28th, one position ahead of Biffle.

The green came out on Lap 51, but Regan Smith stalled on the backstretch and the yellow came out again on Lap 59. Most of the lead-lap cars stayed out, but Kenseth pitted again, as did Biffle.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Jensen

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