Motor Sports Update
Hamlin Cruises to Runner-up Finish at Dover
Dover, DE (June 2, 2007) — This week, the NASCAR Busch Series unloaded at Dover, DE to tackle the Monster Mile. Not one of Denny Hamlin’ favorite tracks on the circuit, Hamlin was determined to conquer the tough 1-mile concrete track. With a race marred with cautions, Hamlin was able to post his best finish at this challenging track.
During the practice day, the car was quick while easily posting times in the top-five on the speed chart. Hamlin backed up his practice time with a qualifying lap of 153.56 mph which would go on to be the pole winning speed.
"It shows you how good our Busch cars are," said Hamlin after receiving his third Busch Pole Award of the season. "I messed up on both laps yet we were still fast enough to win the pole. We will have to see how much the track tightens up, but I think we have a really good car for today."
As the field took the green flag, the Hamlin immediately showed the strength of the #20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet. As Hamlin continued to pull away from the field, he radioed in that the car was getting tight especially from the center of the corner to the exit of the corner. After leading the first 38 laps, Hamlin used a caution period to lead the field to pit road for four tires & some changes. Easily winning the race off pit road, Hamlin resumed the top spot. Leading the next 10 laps, Hamlin was passed by the car of Greg Biffle, but the change was short lived as Hamlin reclaimed the lead one lap later. During this run the car becomes extremely tight and Hamlin eventually surrendered the lead to Carl Edwards. By the time the next caution flag flies, Hamlin had dropped back to the fifth position. As the field heads to pit road, the #20 pit crew turned around a flawless 13 second stop returning Hamlin to the track in the second position.
Hamlin remained in second place until lap 160, when Crew Dave Rogers called for Hamlin’s final stop of the day. Making some aggressive changes, the Rockwell Automation pit crew once again returned Hamlin off pit road first. Hamlin would line up third behind two cars that did not pit. Edwards, the fastest car of the day was two cars behind Hamlin. With four more cautions before the end of the race, Hamlin was challenged with clearing the inside line of lapped cars to race the leaders. He was able to pick off the two cars in front of him, but also was not able to hold off Edwards. Hamlin would go on to finish second, his career best finish at Dover International Speedway.
"I knew after lap 100, we were racing for second place," commented Hamlin following the race. "The track just continued to tighten up and we just could not get the car to turn. I have to thank my pit crew for giving me great stops all day. They helped me gain positions on each stop and put us in contention at the end. We only had one chance to win. We needed to clear lapped traffic, pass the two cars in front and then get a lead big enough that 60 couldn’t catch us. Unfortunately, we had a car that was two laps down racing us like it was for the win and it just bottled everything up. Overall it was a good performance us."
The NASCAR Busch Series will return to action this Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway. The Federated Auto Parts 300 is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN2. Be sure to tune in as Aric Almirola returns to the seat of the #20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet and looks to improve on his good run at this track earlier this year.
