Atlanta Post Race Report
Second-Straight Top-10 Gives FedEx Racing Team Solid Chase Footing
Denny Hamlin finished eighth in Tuesday's rain-postponed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, gaining valuable Chase points in the penultimate regular season event.
Hamlin started 13th and quickly worked into the top-10 in the 325-lap race originally scheduled for Sunday. The #11 Toyota was great on longer runs early in the event, with Hamlin taking the lead on Lap 24 and led five different times for a total of six laps.
Rain showers during the race's midpoint caused short runs and intermittent caution periods, with the #11 machine a bit too tight to challenge for the race lead.
Once the rain finally subsided, the race took its last restart on Lap 255, and Hamlin battled to an eighth-place finish to race winner Jeff Gordon.
Hamlin moved up one spot to 12th in the NASCAR point standings following Atlanta, trailing leader Jimmie Johnson by 164 points. More importantly, Hamlin maintains hold of the second Chase "wild card" spot heading into Saturday's regular season finale at Richmond International Raceway.
