Motor Sports Update
Hamlin Cruises to Top-Five Finish at Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ (April 20, 2007) — Following up his runner up finish at Texas last weekend, Denny Hamlin & the #20 Rockwell Automation / JGR Busch Team headed to Hamlin's favorite track on the circuit, Phoenix International Raceway. A flat one mile racetrack, reminiscent of the tracks Hamlin began his career on in Virginia coupled with being the first night race of the season, all things pointed towards a positive weekend for the team.
On Thursday, the teams spent the day getting the car ready for the race. Consistently practicing in the top ten on the speed chart, the crew prepared the car for qualifying. Hamlin was able to put up a good qualifying lap which would allow him to start 7th for the race later that evening.
With hearts still heavy from incidents earlier in the week, Hamlin, a Virginia native who grew up a big Virginia Tech fan, donned his favorite VT hat for the weekend. Shock Engineer Ron Denton, who grew up in Bristol, VA and was 1994 Hokie graduate, added a few addition VT decals to the #20 car for the Friday evening race.
As the green flag flew, Hamlin was determined to go to the front. Running as high as 3rd, Hamlin slipped back to 6th when a caution flag flew for debris on lap 68. Hamlin followed the leaders to pit road for four tires and an adjustment to make the car turn better in the center of the corner. The pit crew turned around a great stop returning Hamlin to the track in the fourth position. Hamlin would not fall out of the top five for the remainder of the race.
The next 30 laps saw some intense racing as the leaders swap positions with a myriad of wrecks taking place behind them. Hamlin reported that the car was better, but he still needed some help in the center of the corner. On lap 95, Hamlin followed the leaders to pit road. Once again the Rockwell Automation Pit Crew turned around a great stop picking up two positions. Hamlin spent the next 40 laps swapping fourth and third position. The final stop of the night would come on lap 137.
With one car choosing to take 2 tires, Hamlin returned to the track in the fourth position. Hamlin and leaders Clint Bowyer and Matt Kennseth made quick work of that car and the battle ensued. For 10 laps, Hamlin swapped positions with Bowyer and Kennseth as the top three cars slugged it out. Slowed by three more cautions in the final 50 laps, Hamlin would surrender one more position and go on to finish 4th.
"It was a pretty good night," commented Hamlin following the race. "We just couldn't get the car to turn as well through the corner as I had hoped. Each stop we adjusted on it and got it where I could run with the leaders; but I did not have enough to pass them. I can't say enough about how great the pit stops were tonight. It is much easier to pass cars on pit road than it is on the track."
This week, the Busch Series heads to the largest track on the circuit for its longest race of the season. The Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ABC.
