Richmond Post Race Report
Hamlin, FedEx Racing Team Surge to Second at Richmond
Heading into the Sprint Cup weekend at Richmond International Raceway, Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team were craving a "complete weekend" – one in which they had a fast car from the start of the race, they worked hard to improve it throughout and they recorded a good finish when it was all said and done. With a very good second place finish at Hamlin's hometown track on Saturday night, the team will hope this is the run that signals a return to the form that made them a title contender in 2010.
"Of course we wanted to win and we had the car to do it tonight but Kyle (Busch) was good all night as well and we just couldn't get to him there at the end," said Hamlin. "This FedEx team worked hard tonight and we had a good car and good strategy but couldn't outrun our teammate here. We are all happy with the result – we needed a good run and we got it."
Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was the only car in the field that was capable of running with Hamlin on the night, and in the end he was ultimately too fast to catch. Busch and Hamlin led a combined 273 laps on the night to mark a true Joe Gibbs Racing domination while their teammate Joey Logano finished an impressive 11th.
"It a really good night for Joe Gibbs Racing, the way it's supposed to be," said Hamlin. "When you share information and setups you know exactly what your teammate has and we know they were making the same changes as we were. We gave it our best and we know they did. If I can't win I am glad it was a teammate that did."
The Sprint Cup series heads to the famous Darlington Raceway in Darlington (S.C.) for a Saturday night showdown in one week.
Hamlin rolled the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota off from the 11th spot on the grid Saturday night but both he and the crew were confident that he could push forward quickly. Hamlin has found much success at RIR and he put that experience to work early, claiming eighth place on lap 30 and then taking the lead for the first time on the night on lap 72. He was confident in the car and asked for little in the way of changes when the field reached the end of the first fuel run.
Denny pitted for the first time on the night from the lead on lap 88 but a quick stop was undone when the car fell off the jack and the slow stop lost the team valuable time. By the time he cycled through he had dropped from first to fourth place.
The first caution flag of the night flew on lap 106 and Mike Ford called Hamlin to pit road for four tires and fuel. The crew responded with a quick stop and Hamlin restarted third on lap 115. Shortly after the restart he moved in to second where he found himself on the bumper of the #18 M&M Toyota of his teammate.
Denny pitted for fuel, four tires and a wedge adjustment under caution on lap 188. Another good stop saw him line up second for the restart on lap 192. Jeff Gordon passed Hamlin on the restart and started a multilap battle with Busch as Hamlin watched the close racing in third.
A quick caution came out on lap 255 and Hamlin visited pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. The team worked quick but a handful of cars either stayed out or took only two and Denny restarted fifth. The traffic proved to be no issue for Hamlin has he sliced through the traffic and moved t the FedEx Freight Camry to the point on lap 274.
The green-flag action was short lived however as the caution flag was back out only six laps later and Hamlin pitted for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment aimed at freeing up his center and helping with grip back to the throttle. With a variety of strategies in play as the race reaching the 100-lap-to-go mark, Denny lined up tenth behind several cars.
A multi-car incident on lap 302, perilously close to the Hamlin's fuel window, slowed the field and Ford urged Hamlin to conserve fuel while the debris was removed from the track. He restarted fifth and, alongside Busch, they moved to the front – Hamlin close to the rear bumper of his teammate.
The gap between the two JGR drivers stayed consistent as they maneuvered through lapped traffic and raced nose-to-tail toward the checkered flag. Hamlin was able to reel Busch in at times, but Busch was clearly able to pull away if needed.
With 25 laps to go Hamlin's gap to the lead stood at two seconds while Kasey Kahne, running in the third position, was a comfortable five seconds back. As the circuits counted down on the 400-lap event, Hamlin and Busch slowed the race pace in effort to conserve fuel in order to make the end of the race. Once fears of running out were alleviated, the two charged to the stripe, finishing first and second capping an impressive night.
